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May 2022 | Volume 19 | Issue 5

Voice Speaks

Pruning Our Lives

Prom Fashion Trends

Silver City, New Mexico

Janie C. Jessee, Editor-in-Chief 4

Deana Landers 14

May Hot Hunk Hunt! The April “Hot Hunk” was Jacob Elordi on page 29.

Regé-Jean Page Each month Voice will “hide” a picture of a “Hot Hunk.” If you find him, fill out this form, mail it in, and you could win a book from Jan-Carol Publishing!

Honoring Our Veterans: The Veterans History Project

HOT HUNK LOCATION:

How Non-Traditional Families Can Celebrate Mother’s Day

The April “Hot Hunk” was Robert Downey Jr. on page 31.

Where did I pick up my copy of Voice Magazine?

as the winner in the April Hot Hunk Hunt!

Thanks to ALL for sending in your entry!

April Hensley 6

Name: Address: City: State: Zip Code: Phone Number: July Hot Hunk Hunt! Email:

Congratulations to:

Clara Norton Abingdon, VA

Transplanting Seedlings

Pam Blair 7

Mail this submission form to: Voice Magazine P.O. Box 701 Johnson City, TN 37605 or e-mail: hothunk@voicemagazineforwomen.com Deadline for submission is May 20, 2022. PLEASE, ONE ENTRY PER HOUSEHOLD As the selected winner, you must contact Voice Magazine for Women at 423-926-9983 within 90 days to claim and receive your prize. After 90 days, winning becomes null and void and the prize cannot be claimed.

Nancy Binder 16

Jan-Carol Publishing New Releases 18

Jan-Carol Publishing Accepting Submissions for Anthologies 19

Fibromyalgia Treatment Options 23

How to Plan a Special Mother’s Day

The Reality of Aging Cindy Sproles 25

YWCA Tribute to Women Nominees

BBQ Recipes 29

Girls on the Run Northeast Tennessee to Host 5K Event

irls on the Run Northeast Tennessee will host its “Glow the Distance Color-Splash” 5K event on Friday, May 6 at 6:30 p.m. at Towne Acres School in Johnson City. Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based, positive youth development program that uses fun and engaging running games and dynamic discussions to teach life skills to girls in 3rd to 8th grade. Participation in the 5K event is open to the public and all proceeds will benefit Girls on the Run Northeast Tennessee to provide scholarships for

area girls to participate in the program during the fall season. Registration cost is $25.00 in advance and $30.00 on the day of the event. The 5K will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 6 at Towne Acres School. Check-in and pre-event activities begin at 5:30 p.m., so early arrival is suggested. For more information about this fun-filled event, how to register, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.StrongGirlsRun.com!

voicemagazineforwomen.com | May 2022 | 3

VOICE Speaks

raveling these days has taken on a new normal. Having not taken a vacation in four years, and with the last few months’ challenges easing and a pre-paid cruise waiting, it seemed time to go for it. I wasn’t prepared as I should have been for all the changes in travel, especially international travel. Besides mask mandates everywhere, one of these changes was the dependence on a cell phone. My poor Android phone did its best, but with my lack of understanding and its lack of service, its best was not enough. Communication was difficult with the lack of phone of service, even with an international plan, and the new requirements of additional Covid testing and language barriers. It’s said that the universal language is a smile and tears—let me add ‘the mask.’ However, from the taxicab drivers to new acquaintances, another universal language spoken was the commonality of sadness for the people of Ukraine and the brutality of war on them. Even upon arrival on the cruise ship, there was a map outlining Ukraine. I suppose that was to provide assurance of our safety, because as we bound for the sea, the map was removed. Returning home was easier with the restrictions of wearing a mask lifted, but somehow, I felt I should keep the mask near. It has been pounded into our heads for two years to wear a mask, and one day, it’s okay not to wear a mask anymore —how did that happen overnight? Still, I am glad to be back home with my sights on work…with or without a mask. JCP has completed its office move to Blountville, Tn. This move was based on many factors, but the biggest one was looking for an accommodating space for JCP’s offices and retail space in one location. JCP’s plans to open a small books/gifts store. Located in the Food City shopping center in Blountville on Hwy 394, this is a big step for JCP, so your support is much appreciated. Watch for announcements and details as we prepare for the opening sometime in June, with a grand opening unofficially set for August. Plans are that the bookstore will host book signings, workshops, event days, children’s activities, a book club, and much more. If you would like to be a vendor or want your books available for sale in the store, contact Savannah Bailey, 423.302.0108, or email communications@ jancarolpublishing.com for more information. We are accepting applications and we do have limited space. Besides the opening of the future bookstore, Voice Magazine for Women and Jan-Carol Publishing are more active than ever online with our websites and social media. With our newly created JCP online bookshop, book purchases can be made directly from our website. Sign up for our newsletter promoting our book of the month at a discounted retail price. In addition, for you self-published authors, if you would like your non-JCP published book available for sale on our website, contact us for details. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and join the fun of the giveaways and other happenings. Email communications@jancarolpublishing.com to receive our newsletter. Books are great gifts and purchasing a JCP book would not only support a local business, but it would be a perfect Mother’s Day gift! Check out our website for the perfect book for her! On this Mother’s Day, we should say an extra prayer for the all the mothers in Ukraine. With seeing things abroad, and seeing people from all walks of life, I find that there’s no place like home…my country, my rural upbringing, and the many things that my mom taught me. May God Bless them all! From all of us to all of you—Happy Mother’s Day! Thought of the month: “In life, if you want something extra, you must work extra for it.” My grandmother, Mahala Jane Miller, 1897–1982 Verse of the month: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17 KJV Janie C. Jessee, Editor-in-Chief

4 | May 2022 | voicemagazineforwomen.com

FREE Celebrating our 18th anniversary! We wouldn’t be here and there without all of you! LITTLE CREEK BOOKS MOUNTAIN GIRL PRESS EXPRESS EDITIONS ROSEHEART PUBLISHING DIGISTYLE FIERY NIGHT SKIPPY CREEK BROKEN CROW RIDGE “ every story needs a book”

voicemagazineforwomen.com • jancarolpublishing.com Serving Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia!

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 April Hensley Nancy Binder

Cindy Sproles Ken Heath

Pam Blair Deana Landers

Nancy Williams - TLC Publisher/Associate Publisher nancywilliams@thelauruscompany.com Savannah Bailey - Communications Director/Production Editor communications@jancarolpublishing.com Chanie Garner - Project Editor Morgan Henschen - Development/Content/Review Editor GRAPHICS/PRODUCTION Tara Sizemore - Senior Graphics Designer tara@voicemagazineforwomen.com graphics@jancarolpublishing.com SALES Office Phone/Fax: 423.926.9983 DISTRIBUTION Karen Corder Staff PUBLISHED BY JAN-CAROL PUBLISHING, INC. (Volume 19, Issue 5)

While every precaution has been taken to ensure accuracy of the published material, 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 publisher 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 successes, 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.

Prom Fashion Trends Popular this Year

tudying the latest style trends can make it easier to find the best options when it comes to prom attire. Here are some trends that figure to be popular this year.

Historical A wealth of popular historical dramas on television streaming services make this a go-to and topical trend. From “Outlander” to “Bridgerton” to “The Crown,” viewers are in awe of the fashion on these series. Promgoers can borrow elements of historical fashion, including lavish and romantic looks. Lots of satin and corset tops may be seen in this year’s styles.

Boho Teens interested in injecting some free-spirited personality into prom looks may lean heavily on boho styles. Boho is all about natural textures, beading, tassels, and embroidery. Boho dresses can be one-of-a kind. When they include eyelet lace, these dresses can even create a 1970s retro feel. Long, flowing waves or braided pieces in hair can enhance the overall look.

Fit and flair Those who want to rock their curves and show off their silhouettes can opt for fitted bodices and full skirts. Mermaid dresses hug close to the body throughout the bust, waist and hips, and only flair out minimally at the knees or calves for optimal impact. No matter which style they choose, promgoers should have their dresses tailored for perfect fits and check to make sure gowns are comfortable when dancing and moving around.

1990s One only needs to head to the mall to see that the 1990s have come back in a big way. While ripped jeans and flannel shirts are the norm for everyday attire, one can borrow 1990s elements for their prom night style as well. Velvet dresses or spaghetti-strapped slip dresses can replicate looks from the 1990s. This 1990s minimalism ushered in a stark contrast to the poofy and ruffled styles from a decade earlier. Pair looks with a choker necklace and a face-framing updo.

Vintage One way to be on trend but also frugal is to borrow a dress from a bygone era. Teenagers have started making the old new again by wearing their relatives’ own partywear to prom. Anything goes, and this can mean styles from any previous era, but notably dresses that are sophisticated and timeless.

voicemagazineforwomen.com | May 2022 | 5

Transplanting Seedlings By April Hensley

he turning point has arrived that gardeners have been waiting for all spring—it’s time to plant outside! The warmer weather vegetable seedlings like tomatoes and peppers can go in the ground traditionally after Mother’s Day. A few gardeners have already planted cold hardy veggies like broccoli and cabbage. Some gardeners start their plants indoors from carefully chosen seeds and others buy healthy seedlings from various growers in their area. Either way works great and most gardeners do a combination of both to get the items they want to grow for the year. There are few things that can go wrong when transplanting into your space, but there are ways to maximize success. • Check for bugs on plants you have bought before you plant them. You could be bringing invasive insects to your garden that could wipe out your whole crop. • Harden off plants gradually before planting even if they were purchased from a greenhouse. Place in full sun for thirty minutes the first day and increase the time a little every day. If you begin to see signs of sun scald on the leaves, leave them in the shade for a couple of days and then start again. • Some seedlings are grown in peat pots. These are great for the environment but sometimes can stunt the roots. Without removing the pots, gently tear 4 slits down the sides of the pot and across the bottom. This should be very easy and simple to do with your fingers when it is wet. The pot will still be attached but this will allow more roots to anchor the plant.

6 | May 2022 | voicemagazineforwomen.com

• After removing plastic pots from seedlings, check the root system of the plant. Are the roots in a spiral at the bottom? If so, gently tug them until several are unwrapped. This will help them grow deeper and make the plant stronger. • Place most seedlings at the same level as it is growing in the pot, level with the garden soil. However, on tomatoes, especially if they are leggy, it’s better to bury it deeper. The plant will develop roots on the buried stem and become stronger. • Dig holes a few inches deeper and wider than the size of the pot. Loosen the soil in the bottom of the hole. Add any fertilizer or amendments to the hole and mix with the loose soil. This way it will be fed directly to the roots.

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April Hensley works as an office manager and is an avid gardener, writer, and greenhouse hobbyist. April loves the outdoors and is passionate about animal welfare and the environment. She can be reached at aprils1105@embarqmail.com.

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Honoring Our Veterans: The Veterans History Project

By Pam Blair

ne of the highlights of my career with the Department of Veterans Affairs was the opportunity to conduct videotaped interviews with survivors of the Bataan Death March. In 1942 during World War II, 10,000 U.S. prisoners of war were captured by the Japanese in the Philippines and force-marched from the southern end of the Bataan Peninsula to a prison camp 63 miles away. During the march, which lasted about six days, the captives were beaten, shot, bayoneted, and starved, and approximately 1,000 survived. The stories of the survivors we interviewed were devastating as they described the conditions of the deadly march, and we were astonished at their ability to recall the experience in vivid, heartbreaking detail. As the interviewer, I offered several prompts but mostly listened, encouraging them to talk about what happened to them. These interviews from some of the darkest hours in history were submitted to the Veterans History Project in the Library of Congress, where they are permanently housed and preserved. The videotapes and other original memorabilia submitted by veterans or their families can be viewed by accessing them online through the Library of Congress website, or by visiting the center in person. The stories and memorabilia on the website can be searched by name, military branch, or place and period of service. Soon we will celebrate Memorial Day, a federal holiday that occurs on the last Monday in May. It signals the start of summer when we enjoy cookouts or time spent at the

Keep it simple

beach, but Memorial Day was established to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. The holiday originated as Decoration Day and was first celebrated in 1868 in remembrance of those who lost their lives during the Civil War. After the U.S. became involved in World War I, the holiday grew to commemorate members of the military who died in all wars, including World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. On this Memorial Day, why not honor a veteran by asking if they would share their story to be included in the Veterans History Project? The story of a veteran who has passed away may also be entered. According to the Library of Congress website, “The Veterans History Project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.” Stories can be told through audio or videotaped interviews, written memoirs, letters, postcards, personal diaries, and visual materials like photographs, drawings, or scrapbooks. For more information about the Veterans History Project, including guidelines on how to participate, how to search the veterans’ collections, or to read the list of frequently asked questions, visit: www.loc.gov/vets/. Have a safe and happy Memorial Day and may God Bless Our Veterans and Those Who Serve!

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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.

Host a Memorable Memorial Day BBQ

A simple playlist of recognizable, popular songs playing in the background, classic yard games like cornhole or horseshoes, sack races or water balloon tosses for the kids, and tasty classic fare on the grill, including burgers, hot dogs and chicken drumsticks, is likely all you need to put smiles on the faces of your guests.

Prep the grill and yard in advance Make sure all the burners are clean and working properly. Clear clutter from the yard and give patio furniture a thorough cleaning. Have a spare propane tank on hand so you won’t run out of fuel. If you have a pet, be sure that the yard is cleared of waste.

Create a red, white, and blue burger

No barbecue is complete without delicious burgers cooking over an open flame. Those burgers can give an extra nod to the Stars and Stripes by showcasing the nation’s well-recognized colors. Place your grilled burger patty on your bun of choice. Top it with raw or grilled tomato slices (red), a slather of mayonnaise or a more dressed up aioli (white), and some blue cheese crumbles (blue). Carry the color theme over into a side salad as well, with your favorite greens topped with beets, blueberries, and chunks of feta cheese. It doesn’t take much to make Memorial Day barbecues enjoyable. With delicious food and close friends and family in attendance, fun is guaranteed. voicemagazineforwomen.com | May 2022 | 7

How Non-Traditional Families Can Celebrate Mother’s Day

o two families are the same. What may be “normal” for one family could be quite unique to another. Because families are so different, days such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, and even days devoted to siblings or cousins present opportunities for families to celebrate diversity while honoring their family members.

mother divorce out of the family. Modern families even include strong connections between stepmothers and biological mothers, with each doing her part to make sure children are getting the love and support they need.

Same-sex relationships

Certainly a person becomes a mother if she has given birth to a child. But motherhood is a much broader concept. Many women are mothers to children with whom they have little to no biological connection. Some may be relatives that filled the void left by a mother who passed away or was unable to care for children. Anyone who has stepped into the role of caretaker can and should be celebrated on Mother’s Day.

Families continue to evolve and same-sex couples are raising children. Among married same-sex couples, 18.9 percent of the households have children under age 18. These non-traditional families can be creative as they navigate holidays like Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. One way to do so is to celebrate one parent on Mother’s Day and the other on Father’s Day. However, families also can remove gender labels and celebrate both days as Parents Day, casting love and affection on caregivers however they see fit.

Recognizing stepmothers

Absent but not forgotten

The notion of the “evil stepmother” in fairy tales is inaccurate. Many children have very close relationships with their stepmothers—even retaining relationships should the step-

Some mothers are not present in children’s lives for various reasons. These can include death, incarceration, illness, military deployment, or enrollment in a rehabilitation program. Mother’s Day can be a time of mixed emotions for individuals whose moms are not present, and families can work together to find ways to celebrate. This may be visiting the cemetery to pay respects or sending a letter to express one’s feelings. Individuals also can recognize those people who act as surrogate mothers, including special friends or coworkers who always listen and offer advice. Mother’s Day can be recognized with flexibility and creativity within non-traditional families.

Branch out to many caregivers

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8 | May 2022 | voicemagazineforwomen.com

How to P lan a Special Mother’s Day as Pandemic Restrictions are Lifted

other’s Day has felt a little less than normal over the last couple of years. The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of many Mother’s Day gatherings in 2020, and while things felt more familiar in 2021, this year may mark the most normal Mother’s Day celebrations since 2019. Pandemic-related restrictions have now been lifted in many towns and cities. Though it’s best to confirm if any rules and restrictions are still in place before making any plans, individuals who want to make sure Mom has a special day can consider these planning pointers. • Revisit old traditions. There’s many ways to let Mom know she’s special, but after two years of living under the specter of a pandemic, few things might be as meaningful to Mom as a return to pre-pandemic traditions. Book a trip to a destination you’ve visited on Mother’s Day in the past. If possible, visit a locale where Mom spent her first Mother’s Day as a parent, ideally staying in the same hotel or rental home that hosted you back then. • Book a special trip. Millions of people canceled or postponed travel plans during the pandemic. Now that many places, including foreign countries, have lifted travel restrictions, families can feel safe taking off for parts unknown. Such a trip can be even more special if it’s a surprise for Mom on Mother’s Day weekend. • Make it a family affair. Even Mother’s Day celebrations in 2021 were likely smaller affairs than some moms might have preferred. If Mom spent some time wishing more family could be around on Mother’s Day over the last two years, make a concerted effort to include as many family members as possible this year. Encourage grown children to travel home for the holiday and invite Mom’s parents and siblings over to celebrate as well. • Get out of the house. A homecooked meal might have warmed Mom’s heart in recent years, but a day out of the house might be especially welcomed this Mother’s Day. Book a reservation at Mom’s favorite local restaurant so no one has any cooking or cleaning to do this year. Just be sure to book a reservation early, as the competition for a table figures to be especially stiff this year. • Start the day off with a spa visit. Moms might have put pampering on hold during the pandemic. Now that public health agencies have given the go-ahead to lift restrictions, a good pampering is undoubtedly in order. A Mother’s Day morning spa trip can start the day off right.

Mother’s Day celebrations in 2022 should feel more normal than they have in years. Families can capitalize on that by planning a day Mom won’t soon forget.

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YWCA Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia Announces 2022

Tribute to Women Award Recipients

ut of numerous Tri-Cities women nominated by area organizations, nine have been chosen as recipients of the 2022 YWCA Tribute to Women Award. The award, presented yearly by the YWCA Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, honors women across multiple sectors for their leadership qualities, demonstrated achievements, and positive influence in the region. They are offered in three categories—Nurture, Transform, and Empower—reflecting the recipients’ impact on their communities. “The Tribute to Women Award recipients are accomplished and determined women who set a high standard of service to others,” explained YWCA board member Nancy Arnold. “This year’s recipients join an elite group of successful women who have been honored and recognized through this inspirational program.” Nominees for the Tribute to Women Award are reviewed by an independent panel of judges who must determine who will receive the honors in each category. With so many outstanding applicants to choose from each year, the decision process is not an easy one. “The Tri-Cities area has been blessed with many dedicated, talented, and generous women,” said judge Christy Elliot Bly of the many applications the panel evaluated. “I wanted to rank everyone number one.” Fellow judge Emily Zieman agreed. “It was inspirational to read about so many remarkable women,” she said, speaking to not only the quantity but the quality of submissions. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the YWCA will be unable to hold their customary annual banquet to honor the 2022 recipients, but several events have been planned. This year’s award recipients will receive a special visit from staff, board members, sponsors, and available media to receive their awards. The YWCA will also hold a virtual award recipient announcement. “This year marks the 31st year that the YWCA NETN and SWVA will honor nine extraordinary women who nurture, transform, or empower their communities,”

10 | May 2022 | voicemagazineforwomen.com

announced YWCA board member Heidi Dulebohn. “Please join us in celebrating these remarkable recipients, who are models for those served by YWCA and its mission of eliminating racism and empowering women.”

Category: Nurture A champion for at-risk students, Kay Ward began her 27-year tenure with Bristol Tennessee City Schools as a classroom teacher but has spent the past 15 years within their Family Resource Center. As Community and Family Engagement Coordinator, she spearheads and supports initiatives such as the Reading Kay Ward Buddies Program and Be Present! Attendance Challenge. Additionally, she has held leadership positions with groups such as Bristol’s Promise/ Youth Networking Alliance, the Poverty Education and Awareness Coalition, and Family Promise of Bristol and has served with numerous organizations such as United Way of Bristol, the Northeast Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, and the Tennessee Department of Education Family Resource Center Advisory Council. Kay is committed to enhancing the opportunities available to students and the community. Kay was nominated by City of Bristol, Tennessee. Dr. Kim Kirk did not expect to serve as principal of Tennessee High School during a pandemic. But despite unimaginable circumstances—including the deaths of four students and a teacher—she led her community with wisdom and compassion, motivating faculty and students even as she educated herself Dr. Kim Kirk about and instituted health protocols, organized memorials, and established counseling opportunities for her students and coworkers. Guiding and

supporting a school of 1,200 students is a challenge—much more so during COVID. But Kim has always excelled, not only as principal but as teacher, counselor, coach, cheerleader, business professional, and mother to the many students who are inspired by her. The continued success of Tennessee High School is evidence of her achievements. Kim was nominated by Viking Booster Club. Throughout her life, Vivian Dorn-Stuckey has worked tirelessly to mentor and educate in her community. She is an honors graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where she received a BS in Business Education. During her time there, she began tutoring at-risk elementary students, a role that Vivian would lead to various teaching and Dorn-Stuckey mentorship positions at churches, schools, and undergraduate programs in multiple states, including Tennessee. Following graduation, she worked with the Social Security Administration, receiving numerous awards for her service. Vivian continues to utilize her professional expertise by providing workshops on financial literacy. She also mentors young college students and council numerous women as part of her community outreach. Vivian was nominated by Central Baptist Church.

Category: Transform Vice president of human resources for a company of 430 employees and an early adopter of Bristol’s Promise’s innovative Bristol Connect workforce sustainability program, Carolyn Ferrell is known for her ability to understand the needs of employees and their families Carolyn Ferrell and her belief that everyone’s voice should be heard. For this reason, she is often selected to serve on work and community boards and in numerous leadership positions. Her roles have included president of the Chamber of Commerce Bristol TN/VA and the United Way of Bristol and chairperson of Sullivan County NETWORKS Partnership and the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UTCIS) Advisory Council. She is also active in volunteering in the community and through her church. Carolyn was nominated by Bristol’s Promise. Over 46 years Kathy Whitaker has grown the First Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability

(FTAAAD) into an organization that administers $6.2 million over 16 programs to house, feed, transport, and protect seniors. She helped create the Annual Conference on Aging and the First Tennessee District Senior Olympics and has served on the boards of the Southeastern AssoKathy Whitaker ciation of Area Agencies on Aging (SE4A) and the National Association on Area Agencies on Aging (N4A). In 2005 she was a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging and in 2019 was honored by the Tennessee General Assembly and Governor Bill Lee. She continues to develop new avenues to meet the needs of our area’s older adults and adults with disabilities. Kathy was nominated by First TN Development District. In her role as CEO of Frontier Health, Kristie Hammonds couples passion with integrity. She has been instrumental in supporting schoolbased mental health services and a recent Regional School Mental Health Summit and has worked with county and city leaders to address the expansion of substance abuse services to Kristie combat the opioid epidemic. Among Hammonds many leadership positions, she currently serves on the STRONG Accountable Care Executive Committee, the Bright Start TN Steering Committee, the Regional Recovery Ecosystem Advisory Council, and as president-elect of the Tennessee Mental Health Association. Her continuing goal is to develop connections with and educate community leaders and legislators on policy, rights, service development, and funding for those in need. Kristie was nominated by Frontier Health.

Category: Empower Dr. Jodi Helbert is passionate about serving people and promotes on a daily basis the need to support others and lend assistance to the impoverished, socially displaced, and abused. She developed the Bachelor of Social Work program at King University, where she empowers her Dr. Jodi Helbert students to embrace community involvement through various support opportunities. Jodi holds multiple certifications, including a PhD in social work. She is a clinical psychologist, voicemagazineforwomen.com | May 2022 | 11

an honorary colonel in Kentucky, a reverend and a community leader and has served on various boards and with community development programs such as the Paint It Purple event at King University to promote domestic violence awareness and No-Freeze November, which distributes blankets, scarves and other items for winter warmth. Jodi was nominated by DPPS Asset Management Inc. In 2005 Kaylin Render joined the district attorney’s office as a STOP Domestic Violence prosecutor. Since then, she has progressed from prosecuting simple domestic assault cases to handling complex cases of rape, kidnapping, and first-degree murder. Through her work, she has also become involved Kaylin Render with other agencies and groups that deal with domestic violence cases, such as Branch House Family Justice Center, Abuse Alternatives and the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). She gives presentations to civic organizations and churches and conducts trainings for law enforcement agencies in domestic violence investigation. Kaylin’s commitment has been recognized with awards from organizations such as the Front Line

Domestic Violence Task Force for her dedication and service to victims of domestic violence. Kaylin was nominated by District Attorney General, 2nd Judicial District. Stella Robinette has spent several decades working with youth in the Kingsport area and has personally mentored approximately 200 children, encouraging them to excel in school and beyond. To help, she created the concept of a Dream Book, where young people put on Stella Robinette paper their plans and dreams for adulthood. And in 2008 she started the organization Helping Our Potential Evolve (HOPE). Stella has received multiple recognitions, including a Community Leadership Award from the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, a Woman of Impact designation from the Kingsport Junior League and Volunteer of the Year from the United Way of Greater Kingsport. In 2014 the mayor of Kingsport recognized Stella and her organization for their impact in the city. Stella was nominated by Help Our Potential Evolve (H.O.P.E.). Thank you to our sponsors for supporting the 2022 Tribute to Women program. Our current sponsors are: The United Company Foundation; Ballad Health; Food City; Eastman Credit Union; BTES; Bristol Herald Courier; and Eat My Art. The support of our sponsors ensures continued recognition for women in leadership and mentoring positions in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia. We will announce additional sponsors as they are added. The YWCA Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Established in 1943 as a residence for women seeking employment during World War II, it has grown to a multi-site, multi-million-dollar human-services and advocacy operation serving nearly 9,000 annually. Their mission is to address community challenges such as affordable childcare, racial injustice, teen pregnancy, and gender disparity. For more information about the YWCA NETN and SWVA, or to support their programs, you may contact them at (423) 968-9444 or find them online at www.ywcatnva.org.

12 | May 2022 | voicemagazineforwomen.com

7 Gift Ideas for Soon-To-Be Graduates

raduation gifts are a great way to show grads how proud you are that they stayed the course in the face of significant challenges. Here are seven gift ideas for graduates. 1. Journal: Graduates are about to start new chapters in their lives. Either a blank journal or one with writing prompts can help grads get their of financial burden can help them in a big way. thoughts on paper to document both the many Vehicles tend to be major financial drains for moments that will shape the next few years. teens and young adults. Prepaid cash cards, gas 2. Mascot- or school-themed offerings: If a high station gift cards, vouchers for car washes, and school graduate will be going on to higher edueven gift cards to an automotive supply store can cation, then visit the college or university’s spirit help graduates direct their funds elsewhere. shop to purchase anything from sweatshirts to 7. Personal coffeemaker: Many people feel coffee is blankets to coffee mugs featuring a school logo essential to make it through the day. Graduates or mascot. On the first day of classes, the new who will soon be studying for college exams or student will already feel part of the team. those waking up early for their first forays into 3. New wardrobe: Graduating means forging new the workforce may appreciate an on-demand paths, whether in a career or through additional pick-me-up. schooling. Grads can look the part with several Shoppers can explore many interesting options to items from a favorite retailer. Those who are commemorate the accomplishments of the class of 2022. unsure of the graduate’s style can purchase a gift card and let the grad go on a spending spree. 4. Framed school photo or map: A piece of artwork can evoke strong emotions of time spent on campus. Frame a black-and-white or sepia-tone print of the aerial view of campus, or opt for an official school tour map, which indicates buildings and other points of interest. This could become a cherished keepsake. 5. Bedside organizational pouch: Dorm life requires maximizing a small amount of space. An organizational pouch or pocket can keep essentials NEW YEAR...NEW YOU... such as a tablet, book, reading glasses, and remote control close by and organized without I Can Help! taking up a lot of room. Some are designed to rest over a couch cushion or slide between a mattress and bed frame. 6. Automotive essentials: Graduates will be facing all sorts of 508 Princeton Rd., Ste. 106 • Johnson City, TN RealtorRobinMiller@gmail.com Robin Miller new expenses, so easing any sort

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voicemagazineforwomen.com | May 2022 | 13

By Deana Landers www.morningcoffeebeans.com

t’s difficult for me to cut down a pretty plant, even if it is suspicious. But I learned a lesson when I planted one particular tree a few years ago. I thought it would grow tall next to a wooded area in our yard. Instead, one day a vine draped itself over the branches of my tree. It was pretty, so I thought I would let it grow. I didn’t pay much attention to the tree and its new friend because it was at the corner of the lot, so I wasn’t around it that much. The summer went, people came and went, I came and went, and then I suddenly realized I couldn’t see the beautiful tree I had planted. As I walked in its direction, I realized that the once pretty vine had become an invasive monster, consuming my tree. There was no longer any recognizable trace of it. I began to pull and cut the vine away, but it was robust and belligerent. It felt like a tug of war, as though the vine was determined to keep the tree. So I kept cutting and pulling until it was all gone. Underneath was my tree, but much weaker than when I planted it. I touched the branches, rubbed the leaves gently between my fingers, and talked soothingly

to it. The next day I came out and the tree looked a little stronger. Occasionally, something that is intriguing and beautiful walks into our lives. It could be a relationship or a new habit. They make us feel better, happy, and even joyful. The gentleness of their entrance into our hearts keeps us from realizing that they or it is growing stronger every day. Then one day, we try to move them out of the way to see the sun and feel the joy of our strength. However, we find that they have become stronger than our will. We don’t know what to do. So, for a while, we try to rise above it, push against it, even ask for help. When someone does come to help, we can’t hear or see them for the vines and leaves that have taken over our lives. We wish we had paid more attention or checked it out before letting it in. One of the first scriptures I learned as a teenager was, “Above all, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) The way we can do that is to establish boundaries, take responsibility for our emotions, and let others take responsibility for theirs. Sometimes when we are healing physically or emotionally, we need to set boundaries and be patient with ourselves. Spring is a time of renewal. It’s the best time to prune shrubs and trees to make it easier for the plant to recover. It is vital for growth. Pruning can be like spring cleaning or renewing ourselves. But first, we have to let go of some things so we have room for the new. If we let Him, God will help us prune away the things in our life that may be keeping us from blooming or being the best we can be.

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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.

Purchase Jan-Carol Publishing Books at the Harvest Table! “every story needs a book”

13180 Meadowview Square • Meadowview, VA • (276) 944-5140 14 | May 2022 | voicemagazineforwomen.com

Voicemail

Male

By Ken Heath

Spring—the Cruelest Season of All!

pringtime. Oh, the budding lilies, dancing dogwoods, church yards adorned with huge wooden crosses covered in chicken wire and loaded with flowers from Easter Sunday services. I love living in these mountains where we get a taste of all four seasons. But I have to admit, Spring is the cruelest season of all. Hear me out. Winter brings harsh cold, snow and ice, but we kind of expect that. From the first brisk days of November, we start feeling the need to pull the Christmas tree out of the attics and suit up in winter-weight wools. Even the darkness of the first quarter brings a bit of respite, since we’re all pooped out from the holiday season, so we can take advantage of the long, cold nights with a good book and a warm fire. We’re assured we’re in the thick of it, and better days are coming. Summer is beach trips and patio living, icy drinks in pineapple shaped glasses. Fall is a kaleidoscope of color, fire pits, and Saturday football. But Spring? It’s a roller coaster. Nights can plummet so low that anything you plant gets zapped, then the next day’s sunshine lures you like a Siren of yore to dig holes and plant more—only to be fooled again and again. The heat pump rolls to keep the evenings comfortable, the ac is needed to be able to stand the surprise heat of the day. Then it swaps. We’re back to winter, or rain, or winds to shake the trees like they’re recreating the Wizard of Oz. Then it’s 80 degrees—but wait—that’s on Wednesday. Saturday? Rainy and 47. Sunday? Chance of snow and hurricane level gusts. I think I could manage even the weather, but Spring has the ultimate secret weapon. As we open long-shuttered windows to welcome in a “breath of spring air,” it hits. Everything in the house, from the tv screen to the dog’s back, is now fluorescent yellow. Wash the car? Nah.

Even if you can catch a sunny, mild day, instead of fighting frostbite, you’ll only come out an hour later to Mother Nature’s dusty decoration—pollen. It makes breathing akin to sucking air through a wet dish towel, zapping us of energy while that bright sunshine plays its trick on us to draw us outside for that extra dose of pollen. So even with the greening of the trees, the promise of warmer weather, the crack of the bat, and all things Spring, I’m content in wrapping all I own in cellophane and holding out for Summer. Or maybe an Oz tornado-style wind to blow this pollen to the Sahara. It’d fit right in with all that sand!

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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.

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423.262.0444 voicemagazineforwomen.com | May 2022 | 15

SILVER CITY,

NEW MEXICO

Article and Photographs By Nancy Binder

ilver City founded in 1870 is located in the southwest area of New Mexico in a valley at an altitude of 5,985 feet at the foot of the Pinos Altos Range of the Mogollon Mountains and is 3 miles east of the Continental Divide. It was inhabited by the Mimbres Mogollan Indians from about 200AD to 1140AD. The location of Silver City was once an Apache campsite. The number one industry is copper mining, followed by tourism. It boasts the oldest public school system in the state. In downtown we visited the Silver City Museum which is located in a large Victorian house. We learned one of the notorious residents was Billy the Kid. He lived there as a child and adolescent. His first arrest was there, and also his first Silver City Museum jailbreak. His mother is buried in the town cemetery. The museum has lots of artifacts from the mining days. An Apache Indian showed a Spanish officer the copper mine site in 1800. The officer named it Santa Rita del Cobre mine. Today it is the third largest open pit copper mine in the world. In 1870 silver was discovered

Santa Rita Open Pit Copper Mine 16 | May 2022 | voicemagazineforwomen.com

Silver City Downtown Buildings

just outside of town at Chloride Flat. The town became a boom town, with tents popping up along the streets. The town was designed with streets running north to south and was built without thought to summer rains. High sidewalks in the downtown area provided access to businesses during high water. On the night of July 21, 1895 a huge wall of water rushed through the downtown business area, gouging out a ditch 55 feet deep through what was known as Main Street. Today it is known as Big Ditch Park, an oasis in the middle of downtown with walking paths along a creek and lots of trees to shade the area. On the second floor of the museum are photographs of the flooding. There is a room that is furnished in period furnishings. In an annex, there is a postcard exhibit of humorous postcards, such as huge vegetables and fruits, made up animals, furry trout and jackalopes, etc. It was an excellent exhibit. We drove on the main downtown streets admiring the restored buildings, many that were built in the art deco age. We drove up to the campus of Western New Mexico University to look at their collection of Mimbres pottery in the University museum. We learned that the Tarahumara people of the Copper Canyon in Mexico are descendants of the Mimbres based on DNA and jawbone structure, according to one of the docents there. They also make corn beer like the Mimbres did. We visited the Gila Cliff Dwellings. One of the entrances is on Hwy 15, which is a narrow road with no centerline, that twice climbs over the continental divide. continued on next page

Gila Cliff Dwelling

City of Rocks State Park

The road winds around many curves with a number of TB hospital and sanitarium in 1901 and was in continuswitchbacks. It took us 2 hours to cover the 44 miles. It is ous operation until 2006. The hospital had been used as a beautiful drive, albeit a bit scary. After watching the ori- a long term care facility for veterans until 2010 when they entation film at the visitors’ center, we walked on a short built a new facility across the road. After a tour of the trail to a single cliff dwelling that was only 1/8 mile up a fort we sat on the porch of the commander’s house and path. The Mogollon people were believed to live here from talked with the docents for over half an hour, and they 1275 until the early 14th century. It vented their frustration that there is unknown why they left. We condoesn’t seem to be any funds to tinued on to the large dwellings. It restore the buildings some of is a one mile loop that includes 180 which were crumbling. steps that go up sharply in the last We drove to City of Rocks 175 feet. We had debated whether State Park where the rock was to try the climb and decided to formed by a volcanic eruption proceed stopping frequently to 34.9 million years ago. Erosion catch our breath. We made it to the over millions of years has caused top in about 50 minutes. We went the rock to separate into separate into one of the cliff dwellings where boulders some as high as 40 feet. a volunteer ranger told us about the The lanes in between the rocks Heliograph living conditions. The Gila Cliff appear like city streets. Dwellings are one of the most intact Our trips to Silver City have cliff dwellings in the United States. always been in February. We rarely After our tours of the “rooms,” we hit any winter weather, but one went back down the way we came winter a storm was brewing and up. It only took us 25 minutes to we packed up quickly and started go down. driving south into the desert. The On another day we visited Fort wind was particularly strong and Bayard, which began as military we were bombarded with tumblebase in 1866 to protect settlers from weed for miles and miles. When Tumbleweed Native American attacks. It was they hit us they exploded like a mainly staffed by African Ameribomb. An unusual occurrence for can “Buffalo Soldiers.” It became a Midwesterners! heliograph station in 1890 (Morse code with mirrors from Nancy Binder is a retired application software developer turned freelance writer combinhilltop to hilltop). In 1899 it was authorized to build a ing her love of travel with her desire to share her experiences. She is passionate about exploring the outdoors and has been “bitten by the African safari bug,” now her favorite hospital as a military sanatorium to treat tuberculosis. It travel destination. Contact her with comments or travel questions at nancybinder@ sbcglobal.net. was closed as a military fort in 1899, but re-opened as a

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voicemagazineforwomen.com | May 2022 | 17

“every story needs a book”

NEW RELEASES

OUT NOW! Those Devils in Baggy Pants

Originally Written by Ross S. Carter Revised and Republished by David Ross Fraley Those Devils in Baggy Pants was originally published in 1951 by Ross S. Carter, a member of the 82nd Airborne Division during WWII. Carter, one of the three surviving members of his original platoon and Silver Star and Purple Heart awardee, sadly, was never able to see his book in print. Instead, the final chapters were pieced together by his brother, shortly after Carter’s passing, with the help of Carter’s meticulous notes. After its original publication in 1951, Those Devils in Baggy Pants sold one million copies, was a Reader’s Digest condensed book, and was translated into multiple languages. Now, years after being out of print, the hit best seller is being republished by a member of Carter’s own family—David Ross Fraley. In republishing his relative’s incredible tale it is

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.

Dream Big, Noodle!

Written by Monica Riley Kohler Illustrated by Deborah Riley Bocklage This cute and colorful book is about a little This cute and colorful book isa BIG about lady with imagination. You never know what Noodle will be up to next! a little lady with a BIG imagination. You never know what Noodle will be up to next! About the Author and Illustrator:

This niece and aunt duo has always had a dream of writing and illustrating a book together. Their love for being in the classroom and reading to their own students has been a huge part of their inspiration. You can follow along with more of their journey and Noodle updates on: adventures_of_noodlegirl

The Legend of Miren

Written and Illustrated by JeanAnn Taylor Miren meets many enchanted beings while she searches for a way to return to her home—and to her true self. Along the way, she learns that the journey ALSO LOOK FOR: is often met with unexpected and serendipitous surprises. "A truly delightful book full of charming, magical beings. The underlying message in the story is gently and kindly told, making the reader—older or younger, feel it is possible to achieve with a little determination and some good friends. The illustrations by the author fit perfectly with the ambience of the story." — Helen Thatcher, Author of A Little Black Cat's Big Adventure

Misty has many sea-creature friends, but not one true mermaid friend. Follow her adventures as she learns how to make friends while staying true to herself. “As a fellow author of a mermaid book, I was excited to read this book and its important message! We were all meant to have friends and as long as we believe in ourselves, the right friend will come along.” — Jocelyn M. Lacey, Author of Coral's First Sleepover

JeanAnn Taylor

@ twirlatale @ jeananns.taylord.life

Written and Illustrated by

Sweet Sofie Sue

help, love, and value ough Sofie’s adventure

the story! Sweet Sofie Sue ing others in their times of

The artwork is superb!”

ddle Diddle, the Widdle Penguin

Debbie Neal Illustrated by

Brooke Beaver and Jessica Beaver

Sweet Sofie Sue and Her Beach Adventures

Written by Debbie Neal Illustrated by Brooke Beaver and Jessica Beaver Sweet Sofie Sue will teach your child to help, love, and value their friends, The story of a Black youth’s Sofie’s dream to become a lawyer family, and loved ones through and the obstacles he overcame to successfully accomplish his goal. adventure at the beach.

we make and the people we let into our lives. It’s about overcoming what life deals us and being true to ourselves. It makes you think about the choices we’ve made and ones yet to come.”

—Jacqueline Marinaro, author of The Order of the Fallen

n Goddess of Promised Land: Genesis, anarchist Amanda Foster and her mother, who is still enmeshed in Jim Crow, disagree on what to do with an abandoned mysterious baby of color found in a back pasture of the Promised Land. Amanda flees with the baby to a hidden sanctuary in Virginia so she can live in peace with her child. It’s there where new love blossoms, but also more danger.

is the author of Bread and Justice: 200 Years of Tennessee Bread Recipes and Stories of Social Justice to Revive the Body and Nurture the Soul. She lives in Asheville, NC and spends her time kissing grandkids and making up “what if . . .” stories for readers and listeners of all ages. bliss-ingstoyou.blogspot.com peoplepowergranny.blogspot.com rachaelrobertsbliss @peoplepowergran

18 | May 2022 | voicemagazineforwomen.com

RACHAEL ROBERTS BLISS

Written by Rachael Roberts Bliss In Goddess of Promised Land:I Genesis, anarchist Amanda Foster and her mother, who is still enmeshed in Jim Crow, disagree on what to do with an abanRACHAEL ROBERTS BLISS doned mysterious baby of color found in a back pasture of the Promised Land. Amanda flees with the baby to a hidden sanctuary in Virginia so she can live in peace with her child. It’s there where new love blossoms, but also more danger.

The Goddess of PROMISED LAND: GENESIS

The Goddess of the Promise Land: Genesis

“When tragedy and heartbreak tear through Amanda, she’s left to make a choice that will alter her whole life. The Goddess of Promised Land is about the choices

COPYRIGHT 2022 COVER DESIGN: TARA SIZEMORE COVER BACKGROUND PHOTOGRAPH: © SEBASTIAN DUDA/ADOBE STOCK FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPH: ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS, STATE OF TENNESSEE JAN-CAROL PUBLISHING, INC. WWW.JANCAROLPUBLISHING.COM

RACHAEL ROBERTS BLISS

COMING SOON The Dreamer: John W. McClarty

The Honorable John W. McClarty, Judge

Judge John W. McClarty is an appellate judge on the Tennessee Court of Appeals. He is a graduate of Austin Peay State University and the Southern University Law Center. He is a lifelong resident of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Written by The Honorable John W. McClarty The story of a Black youth’s dream to become a lawyer and the obstacles he overcame to successfully accomplish his goal. The Honorable John W. McClarty, Judge TENNESSEE COURT OF APPEALS

The Goddess of Promised Land

Genesis

Book One

Illustrated by

Deborah Riley Bocklage

Written by Wayne A. Major and Co-Author Ralphine Major Illustrated by Teresa Wilkerson This is a fun and educational children’s picture book about nature. The synchronous fireflies put on a spectacular show as thousands of them light up at the same time and then go dim at the same time. This unique happening occurs only once a year at a remote setting called Elkmont which was once a thriving logging camp. Elkmont is close to the tourist towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge where thousands of tourists spend their vacations enjoying the many stores, restaurants, and amusement locations. Piddle Diddle, the Widdle Penguin, and her family enjoy this amazing experience watching the synchronous fireflies while on vacation in the Smokies.

The Dreamer: John W. McClarty

be kind to others. The author

and Her Beach Adventures

Monica Riley Kohler

Piddle Diddle, the Widdle Penguin, and the Synchronous Fireflies of the Great Smoky Mountains

Fraley’s hope to honor both story and storyteller.

Miren meets many enchanted beings while she searches for a way to return to her home—and to her true self. Along the way, she learns that the journey is often met with unexpected and serendipitous surprises.

Dream Big, Noodle!

Jan-Carol Publishing Books

www.Jancarolpublishing.com www.Amazon.com www.Barnesandnoble.com

JCP is Now Accepting Submissions for the Fourth Installment of These Haunted Hills The These Haunted Hills series began with the first installment in fall of 2017, and has since produced second and third editions. Each anthology is filled with stories that indulge readers’ curiosity for the supernatural from an array of accomplished authors. These Haunted Hills: Book 4 is set for publication in autumn of 2022. Authors whose stories are accepted will receive 2 free books after publication. Payment for shipping is required.

“every story needs a book”

AUTHORS on the ROAD Linda Hudson Hoagland

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; Scattered Flowers; and These Haunted Hills and These Haunted Hills Book 2

Inclement weather may cause a cancellation and the event will be rescheduled at a later date. Friday, May 6, 10 am – 4 pm Book Signing Food City Wytheville, VA

Stories submitted to the fourth edition of JCP’s haunting anthology collection should follow the theme of spooky or supernatural stories set in the Appalachian region. Stories must be fiction. The submission fee per story is $10. You may call the office at 423.926.9983 with a credit card number or mail a check to JCP at P.O. Box 701, Johnson City, TN, 37605. Stories must have a minimum of 1500 words and a maximum of 3500 words per story. The deadline for submissions is May 31 st 2022. Send your submissions to submissions@jancarolpublishing.com.

Saturday, May 14, 10 am – 4 pm Book Signing Food City Virginia Avenue, Bristol, TN Sunday, May 15, 10 am – 4 pm Book Signing Big Walker Lookout Wytheville, VA Friday, May 20, 10 am – 4 pm Book Signing Food City Bluefield, VA Saturday, May 21, 10 am – 4 pm Book Signing Food City Abingdon, VA Sunday, May 22, 10 am – 4 pm Book Signing Big Walker Lookout Wytheville, VA

Friday, May 27, 10 am – 4 pm Book Signing Food City Vansant, VA Saturday May 28, 10 am – 4 pm Book Signing Food City Pulaski, VA Sunday, May 29, 10 am – 4 pm Book Signing Big Walker Lookout Wytheville, VA Sunday, May 30, 10 am – 4 pm Book Signing Big Walker Lookout Wytheville, VA

Appalachian Authors Guild

The Appalachian Authors Guild is meeting Tuesday, May 10 at Shoney’s in Abingdon, VA beginning at 11:30 am. Jesse Graves will be presenting on “Using Poetry to Motivate Ideas.”

Saturday, May 7, 10 am – 4 pm Book Signing Food City St. Paul, VA

Come and join Piddle Diddle, the Widdle Penguin, to see the Synchronous Fireflies of the Great Smoky Mountains!

Tuesday, May 10, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Appalachian Authors Guild General Meeting Dr. Jesse Graves “Using Poetry to Motivate Ideas” Shoney’s Abingdon, VA Friday, May 13, 10 am – 4 pm Book Signing Food City Marion, VA

Illustrated by

Teresa Wilkerso

Written by

Co-Author

Major jor Ralphine

Wayne A. Ma

Jancarolpublishing.com Amazon – Barnes and Noble – and Select Retailers voicemagazineforwomen.com | May 2022 | 19

This Month’s Featured Books

RD, —CHELSEA GIRA

FLOWER A DELICATE AUTHOR OF

Y TO WOMEN READ

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ate, author and advoc is a Canadian n. to empower wome nd experiences to a happily married dreamer, and is is balance. Jenn life her who gives and beer enthusiast, craft a cs, politi ct der. You can conne Bruin and Thun social e through the anywhere onlin jennsadai.com. r website, www.

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Women Ready to Rise is empowering, thoughtful, and inspiring as twenty-two women share their secrets, stories, and survival voices. All women share their experiences, with each being so different but at the same time, there is a common thread that ties them all together. Their voices will resonate with all women. Every reader will walk alongside these women and feel their contagious triumph and power.

Author Doreen Oberg opens the doors to anyone who has ever questioned aspects of their upbringing. The reader will find that Mile Markers is literally one question after another from different points in the author’s life. The reader will share her experiences and her desire to “learn beyond” and walk forward towards unexpected horizons. If you have ever questioned family ties rooted in religious teaching, this book is for you. Told with raw emotion, the author’s personal story takes you, the reader, through her turmoil to her wellness.

Cynn Chadwick After Anna Shields receives an invitation from her estranged Aunt Lydia, she flies to Tennessee to find a number of older women—Tasha, Sadie, and Chloe—also living on Lydia’s farm. Losing power during a blizzard, the women share dark and startling secrets. Skating between past and present, they reveal frighteningly desperate things that they have done. Anna begins to realize, to her shock, that these things are connected to her own past and become key to her future.

E. Louise Jaques

“E. Louise Jaques builds riveting suspense within the pages of Her Tuscan Sister involving murder, mystery, and undeniable greed. While seeking answers to her brother’s sudden death, Catherine finds an unexpected sibling in Italy and unsettling clues to several suspicions. The author sets the stage, bringing the reader to every scent and sound of Italian life.” —KRISTINE CABOT, Author

Jan-Carol Publishing Books

Joy Ruble Readers will gain insight into how prejudice can exist in many different forms all over the country and not just in the Southern states as they follow Kathy. Kathy is a small-town girl in the 1980s who is desperately seeking to escape her dismal life. As she comes of age, she learns that escaping one set of problems only leads to new ones. Her journey to discovering herself takes her down an unlikely path that will keep you laughing and cheering for her along the way.

Order this book directly from JCP — for a discounted price and FREE shipping! Go to the “Book Shop” at www.jancarolpublishing.com.

www.Jancarolpublishing.com • www.Amazon.com • www.Barnesandnoble.com 20 | May 2022 | voicemagazineforwomen.com

Books You May Have Missed! Yesterday’s Books and Tomorrow’s Reading

Rita Rumgay

Kathleen M. Jacobs

Judi Light Hopson

Melissa Sneed Wilson

Gem is mourning her grandmother and baby boy, losing one to cancer and the baby by the hands of her abusive husband. She was raised by her grandmother when her hippie mother abandoned her; she never knew her father. Gem’s only desire is to love and be loved. Her best friend, Carolyn from high school, has comforted her through these tragedies. As well as her deceased grandmother, whom Gem feels is still with her, making her laugh, Gem struggles to begin her life, again. Bent but not broken, she recovers to discover a genuine love and strength within herself.

Betsy Blossom Brown is a comingof-age story about a young girl who journeys from being an observer of life to a participant. Her seemingly idyllic life with her privileged South Carolina family is turned upside down, revealing truths and disarming pretensions. She’s independent, opinionated, and brave. Uncertainty enters her life when she and her mother move to the Appalachian region until, through a series of unsettling events; she sheds her uncertainty and learns to embrace life. The graphite illustrations help to understand the depth of Betsy Blossom Brown, as she sketches her way through life recognizing her mild Asperger syndrome, without letting it curb her appetite for life.

This self-help guide to reducing stress covers 12 major areas of life. Easy-to-implement strategies help the reader take charge of time, money, relationships, self-care, and more. This commonsense guide to lifestyle changes is enhanced by scenarios of how others cooled their stress with simple, positive steps. Studies have shown stress is rising annually in the U.S. for most individuals. My goal is to help readers reduce their personal stress levels by at least 50%.

Jennifer Johnson left her southern roots behind after college to start over in New York City. Now just shy of turning twenty-nine, Jennifer is let go from her job as a public relations manager and returns to her hometown of Edmonds, Virginia for the summer. While flying back to her hometown, Jennifer is seated next to an old friend from high school, Aaron Scott. He doesn’t recognize her at first—or so she thinks—as she’s changed since their junior year, in more ways than just her physical appearance. Jennifer must learn to readjust to living life under her parents’ roof with her younger sister while beginning a new summer job in the most surprising of places.

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www.Jancarolpublishing.com • www.Amazon.com • www.Barnesandnoble.com 21 | May 2022 | voicemagazineforwomen.com

voicemagazineforwomen.com | May 2022 | 21

Clever Ways to Find More Time for Reading

he benefits of reading are undeniable. Reading can improve memory, promote stronger analytical thinking skills, improve focus and concentration, and build vocabularies. However, in the digital era, many individuals, even those who love to read, are finding it hard to make time to cuddle up with a good book. People hoping to find even more time for reading can try these strategies. • Read what you enjoy. It’s tempting to pick books based on what others are reading or what you believe will make you seem more erudite. Choose subjects that appeal to you rather than ones you think you should read. Books should spark your interest and curiosity, no matter the subject, and you’re more likely to finish a book when you find it engaging. • Join a book club. A book club can open you up to a variety of titles. Book clubs tend to stick to deadlines and schedules, meaning you’ll already

be encouraged to read more to meet the minimum requirements of the club. Furthermore, an opportunity to discuss the book with others can motivate you to read the book in a timely fashion. A young woman’s life turns upside down • Change your commute. Letting someone else do when her father, who was her best friend, the driving frees up commuting time for reading. suddenly dies. Throughout her pain, she decides to turn her tragedy into triumph Even if the bus or train ride is longer than driving by writing a collection of poems in to work, it may present an opportunity to relax memory of her father. Her faith in God gave her the strength to survive such a and turn some pages along the way. challenging time in her life. This collection • Invest in an e-reader. Some purists feel that of poems gives hope to people who reading ink on page is the only way to devour suffered the loss of their father and will show how God brings restoration through books. While books are portable, e-readers are hope and prayer. This collection is my even more so and you can have an entire library poetry journey from pain to purpose for Christians who can identify with the loss on a single device, enabling you to move between of a loved one. books simultaneously if that’s how you operate. Stowing the e-reader in a purse or work bag Available: enables you to read whenever free time arises, www.patricewilkerson.com such as in waiting rooms, idling in the school www.amazon.com pick-up line or while sitting in the car waiting for a spouse to come out of the grocery store. • Set your own rules. When Life Care Center of Gray reading for pleasure, establish your own rules. Don’t hesitate to We are a perfect choice for: stop reading a book if you find it’s • Short-Term Rehabilitation not as engaging as you’d initially • Long-Term Care hoped. • Post-Operative Recovery Reading promotes brain Life Care Center of Gray focuses on inpatient and health and mental well-being. outpatient rehabilitation with 24-hour skilled nursing care. Various strategies can help you find more time to cuddle up with Stop by today for a tour! a good book. 791 Old Gray Station Rd • Gray, TN 423.477.7146 • lifecarecenterofgraytn.com

22 | May 2022 | voicemagazineforwomen.com

Fibromyalgia Treatment Options

ibromyalgia is a clinical syndrome that presents as widespread body pain. If left untreated, fibromyalgia is a potentially debilitating condition. Middle age women are especially vulnerable to fibromyalgia, and early diagnosis is key so that treatments can begin. Treatment is likely to be more effective if introduced early, according to a 2017 study in the journal Australian Prescriber. The Mayo Clinic says doctors attempting to diagnose pain used to check 18 specific points on the body to determine if pain was linked to fibromyalgia. However, newer guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology no longer require a tender point exam for diagnosis. Instead, the condition is considered present when widespread pain throughout the body lasts for at least three months. Newly diagnosed fibromyalgia patients may have many questions about the illness and their treatment options. Fibromyalgia

symptoms wax and wane, so Johns Hopkins Medicine says treatment strategies continually need to evolve and are tailored specifically to each patient’s needs. However, treatment strategies tend to fall into four broad categories: education; symptom management; cognitive behavior therapy; and complementary approaches. Symptom management tends to include a variety of medications. The Mayo Clinic Says doctors will recommend pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, which are available over-the-counter. Opioid pain relievers usually are not recommended because of side effects and risk for dependence. Antidepressants are the most frequently used and best studied drugs for the treatment of fibromyalgia, indicates Johns Hopkins. They are effective in treating pain, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and depression. Anti-seizure drugs often are useful to reduce certain types of pain. In addition to medications, complementary approaches include physical therapy, acupressure, massage, acupuncture, hypnosis, osteopathic manipulation, and other techniques. Cognitive behavior therapy also may help those with fibromyalgia manage their condition by applying relaxation therapy and cognitive pain management, among other techniques. Speaking with a mental health counselor also can give individuals additional tools for dealing with painful and stressful situations that arise due to fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia affects many people, notably women. There is no cure, but various treatments can relieve pain and assist with other symptoms.

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How to Corral Spring Allergies

easonal allergies can put a damper on even the most welcoming spring day. After all, a day soaking up the sun isn’t so relaxing when it’s also spent sneezing and confronting allergy symptoms like congestion, runny nose and watery eyes. Thankfully, it’s possible for seasonal allergy sufferers to have their spring and enjoy it, too. • Pay attention to seasonal allergy trackers. Seasonal allergies are now easier to track than ever. For example, Pollen.com is an easily accessible and free site that allows visitors to type in their ZIP codes and access daily allergy reports for their towns and cities. Visitors also can see five-day forecasts that can help them plan trips and other outdoor excursions. Weather.com also offers free allergy reports and forecasts. Individuals with

Cornelia Laemmli Orth, Music Director

EASTMAN CELEBRATION CONCERT THE PLANETS

seasonal allergies can make use of these sites and plan their activities based on the information they provide. • Stay indoors when allergen levels are especially high. The Mayo Clinic notes that there are several things individuals can do to reduce their exposure to seasonal allergy triggers. That includes staying indoors on dry, windy days. This doesn’t mean individuals need to lock themselves indoors all spring. But it’s important that seasonal allergy sufferers recognize that some days might be too much to handle. Rain helps clear pollen from the air, so individuals who are avoiding the outdoors on days when pollen counts are high should be able to get outside after a good rain without triggering an attack. • Maintain clean air indoors. The great outdoors is not the only place where allergens percolate. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America notes that improving air quality in a home can reduce allergy triggers. Air conditioners can prevent outdoor allergens from entering a home, so utilize units on warm spring days when you might otherwise open the windows. Open windows and screen doors provide easy entry points for allergens like pollen, so turning on the AC when outdoor allergen counts are high can make seasonal allergies more manageable. • Consider treatments. Over-the-counter treatments like antihistamines, nasal sprays and decongestants provide most individuals with sufficient relief from their seasonal allergies. If OTC remedies are ineffective, treatments such as allergen immunotherapy and a consultation with an allergen may be necessary. Seasonal allergies can spoil an otherwise welcoming spring day. But there are many ways for individuals to corral their seasonal allergies and still enjoy spring sun.

BE HAPPY IN 2022! NO BUGS! MAY 7TH | 7:30PM | $35 Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center, Kingsport, TN * Please note that Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center Auditorium requires the audience to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 to attend this concert.

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The Reality of Aging

By Cindy K. Sproles

ging is frustrating. Somehow, time sneaks past while we spend time hauling children to clubs, events, and extracurricular activities. The alarm rings one morning, and suddenly we realize our families are grown, and our roles with our parents have reversed. It’s hard to say which one hits us the hardest. Both are signs of our own aging too. Perhaps the most significant reality comes when we wake up and find our parents require our assistance. Aging is hard for the best of us to accept, but for the child of an aging parent, role reversal is not only difficult but frightening. One day parents are working, gardening, and physically active—the next, they find themselves stuck in a recliner. We’ve depended upon our parents for years as our support systems, and now they rely on us. It’s an adjustment for them and us. It’s essential families understand this fear and frustration are not selfish. It’s simply accepting a part of life we dread—our immortality. Rarely as young adults do we think of our parents aging. They walk through life alongside us, help us grow, enjoy grandchildren, and offer guidance. Still, seeing them grow old hurts. It hurts because we understand that the next phase of life means life without them. Spending valuable time with aging parents is vital not just for them but for us. It seems we never outgrow those times we roll our eyes in frustration at them, but it is essential that our time with them becomes quality. Put differences behind you—There isn’t a family alive who doesn’t butt heads from time to time. It’s normal, but it’s time to reconsider the reason when a tiff turns into a years-long grudge. Sadly, many cannot release their pride and stubbornness long enough to move past when disagreements happen. Just as many seniors hold on to silly disputes, so do their children—a clear sign this is a two-way street. There comes the point when healing is necessary, both for our parents and us. A wise grandma once said, “Regret is an ugly bedfellow.” And she was right. Whether you agree on every detail of life is not essential, but the relationship must remain intact, even when it’s difficult. Once that parent is gone, there is nothing we can do to rectify what is lost. In the long run, for everyone’s mental wellness it’s better to say, “I’m glad I made an effort,” over “I wish I would have.”

Put differences behind you. Life is too short to waste it in anger. Understand the crankiness of aging—It’s a fact that aging seniors get a little cranky, but rightfully so. Just as you have woken up to a grown family, they see the final stages of their lives. Unless they find hope in their faith, many see the end of life as final. Fear, hopelessness, and anger bore their way into their thoughts. Now is the time to step up rather than take offense. Offer encouragement, reminisce, and do things that bring laughter and joy into the lives of your loved ones. Not only will this bring them a sense of peace, but you will also benefit. Bear with the inabilities—That once confident and robust parent suddenly cannot make a decision or remember the time of a doctor’s appointment. It’s not always a devastating thing like dementia or Alzheimer’s…it’s simply aging. As our bodies age and the process of winding down begins, it focuses on the more minute details of the individual. Little things may slip. Just remember this is part of the aging process and another reason activity is so important. Reading, puzzles, gentle exercise, a good diet, and hydration keep the body and mind strong. Encourage these things. Walk a little slower—Aging parents’ pace slows and their balance wains. Remember when you walk, drop your pace. There’s no need even to mention it. Just do it. Extend an arm so seniors can grasp hold for a little extra balance. One of the sweetest things I saw my husband do for his mother was to extend his arm for her to hold. When she took hold, he gently pressed his hand around hers. She looked at him with such love. That little move brought her more happiness than all the gifts in the world. Slow down in your steps and in time. It’s the little things that are valuable. Love a little harder—Whether we are in our golden years, middle age, or youth, we aren’t privy to when our time ends, but it is important to realize that loving a little harder is always right. It doesn’t matter who is right or wrong or when to come or go. What matters is the value we place on others –in others. When the candle extinguishes, did you love that senior hard? Did you love them well? Passing from here to there is never easy for those left behind, but what makes it tolerable is our effort to assure that person is well-loved. The realities of aging are bittersweet. It is, after all, the circle of life. Learning to lay aside ourselves for a short time to grasp hold of our loved ones makes life much sweeter for us all.

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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. voicemagazineforwomen.com | May 2022 | 25

Be Prepared By Kelly McFadden “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance…” 1 Peter 1:13–14 KJV Interpretation: “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.” 1 Peter 1:13–14 KJV

t was a gorgeous day and I was sitting on a pontoon boat on Bass Lake. There were three adults and about seven fifth-graders enjoying the afternoon. The pontoon boat we were on had a second-story deck that was providing most of the afternoon’s entertainment. The boys were trying all sorts of different

dives and tricks off the top into the water below, leaving us laughing and cheering with every jump. One of the kids decided to try a belly-flop. Now, before you wince thinking about the pain that would cause, let me explain: He wanted to see if it would hurt to do a belly-flop if he put on two life jackets, one as it should be worn covering his stomach and back and the other situated as a diaper. He suited up and headed to the top. He didn’t hesitate, leaping from the top, hitting the water at a perfect belly-flop angle. The moment he surfaced, someone screamed, “Does your belly hurt?” “Not at all!” he yelled back in reply. I love how this little guy thought carefully through what he was about to do and prepared fully to be able to accomplish his task without getting hurt. In our own life situations, I believe the Lord wants that for each of us as well. The verse above gives us the hint on how to get through this life as unscathed as possible. Prepare. This seems to be a key word and theme throughout the Bible. Nowhere do you see in Jesus’s life or His teachings that we are to run headfirst into life or anything without first praying, thinking through and preparing for what lies ahead. In Ephesians, Paul even takes his readers through the armor of God and likens this preparation as to a battleground. No warrior would enter battle without his armor on and so no Christian should go through this life without preparing his or her mind for action. When we are not prepared and remain ignorant, it becomes too easy to get hurt and conform to ways of old. www.homeword.com

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Symphony of the Mountains to Perform Eastman Celebration Concert

ymphony of the Mountains will present the postponed Eastman Celebration Concert Saturday, May 7 at 7:30pm, the first performance back in the Toy F. Reid Employee Center Auditorium since 2020. The orchestra will perform “The Planets” by Gustav Holst. The massive work premiered in 1920, the same year Eastman was founded. It will be one of the largest symphony works ever performed in the Tri-Cities with 80 musicians on stage and a fascinating array of instruments including a bass oboe, euphonium, bass chimes and two sets of timpani. The first planet, “Mars, the Bringer of War” is well known to football fans in East Tennessee, as the beginning is frequently played by marching bands at both high school and college football games. This will be a rare opportunity to hear “The Planets” in its entirety. In the final movement, “Neptune, the Mystic,” the orchestra will be joined by the Voices of the Mountains Women, the Cantemus Women’s Choir and the Dobyns-Bennett Chamber Choir Women. The concert will be complemented by visual inspirations courtesy of Adam Thanz and Jason Dorfman of the Bays Mountain Planetarium. Music Director Cornelia Laemmli Orth and the orchestra will open the concert with Mozart’s popular final Symphony #41, the “Jupiter” symphony. Tickets to the “Eastman Celebration Concert” are $35 and may be obtained from the Symphony box office,

Music Director Cornelia Laemmli Orth 423-392-8423 or online through www.SymphonyOfTheMountains.org. Free tickets are available for all Eastman employees and retirees at the front desk of the Toy F. Reid Employee Center. As with all Symphony of the Mountains concerts, free tickets are also available for children and students. The “Eastman Celebration Concert” kicks of a busy month for Symphony of the Mountains. May 8 at 3:00pm (Bristol), May 9 at 7:00pm (Jonesville, VA) and May 10 at 7:00pm (Emory, VA) the orchestra will play fun family concerts featuring “When Instruments Roamed the Earth®,” a unique presentation of the instruments of the orchestra as if they are dinosaurs from the past. Rick McVey, formerly of Barter Theatre, will narrate the hilarious concert in which a special T-Rex conductor makes an appearance. The orchestra will also offer free school performances of the program throughout the region. May 22nd at 3:00pm will mark the final concert of the Symphony’s 75th Anniversary Season, “Woodwinds and All That Jazz” at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Bristol.

voicemagazineforwomen.com | May 2022 | 27

Perkins Family Takes Pride in Mother’s Day Mary Perkins, great great grandniece of Mother’s Day founder Mary Sasseen, is honoring her heritage this Mother’s Day with the following article, originally published in 1961 in The Concord Tribune by Kay Harbison.

group of somewhat unruly seventh-grade boys caused a young, red-headed Henderson, KY teacher to come forth with the idea of Mother’s Day. That’s the story told by Mrs. Sam Perkins Jr. of Harrisburg—and she got it from the aunt, who might well be considered an authority on the subject. Sunday—Mother’s Day—has a great significance for every individual. But, for the Sam Perkins Jr. family, it is a particularly eventful day. It was Mrs. Perkins’ great-aunt, Miss Mary Towles Sasseen (later Mrs. Marshall Wilson) who originated Mother’s Day. And Mrs. Perkins’ mother, Mrs. H. G. Dawson—who makes her home with her daughter and family much of the time—is a niece of Miss Sasseen. She, too, is named Mary—“for my grandmother and aunt.” Miss Sasseen, teaching seventh graders in the “little red schoolhouse” at Henderson in the latter years of the 19th century, had a group of boys who were like boys of every century. They were difficult to manage. She found that she could discipline them by appealing to them through their mothers. “And that was the main reason she started Mother’s Day,” Mrs. Perkins related. Although Mrs. Perkins never knew her great-aunt, she is acquainted with many facts about her. Much has been written about Miss Sasseen and her initiation of a day to honor mothers—“but the primary reason for the beginning of the day has never before been printed,” Mrs. Perkins said. Recently, Miss Sasseen was proclaimed by the Kentucky Legislature as originator of Mother’s Day. (An earlier bill, seeking such recognition of the Kentuckian, had failed to pass.) “Aunt Mamie—everybody in our family had a nickname and hers was ‘Mamie’ used to write poems and dedicate them to her own mother,” Mrs. Dawson recalled. “She loved her mother very much.” It was Mrs. Dawson, then in her early teens, who went to her “Aunt Mamie” and stayed with her during the last weeks of Mrs. Wilson’s life. “My aunt wasn’t well, and I had been ill myself and unable to be in school. Aunt Mamie wrote to my mother and said, if I would come and stay with her, she would teach me,” Mrs. Dawson said. “So I went to Florida where she and her husband were living.” But Mrs. Mary Sasseen Wilson, who had married somewhat late in life, died in childbirth—a tragically ironic death for a woman who had devoted so many years to gaining recognition for all “motherhood.”

The Beginning Miss Sasseen, feeling a great devotion to her own mother and respect for the unbounded influence of all mothers, started the Mother’s Day observance on a small scale. It was in the spring of 1887, in her own school at Henderson, that she first proposed the idea of children honoring their mothers on a special day. She wanted the youngsters to feel for their mothers “the full admiration, respect, and love” that she felt was “due all mothers.” Miss Sasseen selected her own mother’s birthday as a date of the observance and invited 28 | May 2022 | voicemagazineforwomen.com

mothers of her pupils to a ceremony at [the] school. The observance began to spread to all local schools. Then schools in nearby towns took up the idea. In 1893, Miss Sasseen published a brochure—now on file in the library at Henderson—outlining her plan for the day’s observance. Several years after beginning the “day” in Henderson, Miss Sasseen was visiting a sister in Springfield, Ohio, and introduced her school “Mother’s Day” plan there. And she continued her efforts for a nationwide observance —apparently pushing it primarily as a school-connected program. She traveled extensively, addressing educational sessions and other meetings. “Aunt Mamie never looked for any credit for herself,” said Mrs. Dawson. “It was her family and friends who later sought recognition for her.” Miss Sasseen gave up teaching in 1900 to marry Judge Wilson. She was encouraged by her husband to devote even more time to promoting Mother’s Day as a national observance. But, in 1904, she died.

Miss Jarvis It was in 1905, a year after Mrs. Wilson’s death, that Miss Anna Jarvis introduced a plan for Mother’s Day. That was many years after the observance had first been started in the Henderson, KY schools. Miss Jarvis selected the second Sunday in May in memory of the date of her own mother’s death. She fought for many years to have the day formally designated. And, in 1914, she was successful, President Woodrow Wilson signing a congressional resolution setting aside the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. Miss Jarvis lived until 1948, reaching the age of 84. But, before her death, she had become embittered about the observance which she felt had been cheapened by commercialism. Miss Jarvis often has been called the originator of Mother’s Day, but it was actually Miss Sasseen who initiated the observance. Credit for establishing Miss Sasseen as the originator of Mother’s Day goes to a Bostonian, Earnest Chase. Chase, doing research on the day’s beginnings, discovered that it was [the] redheaded school teacher of Henderson who truly was the “mother” of all Mother’s Day observances. In Henderson, a plaque has been placed at Mrs. Wilson’s grave. Put there by the Henderson County Historical Society, it reads: “Mary Towle Sasseen, in 1887, founded Mother’s Day.”

and top is golden brown, about 35 minutes. Drizzle remaining barbecue sauce over bread pudding. Sprinkle with chives. Source: tasteofhome.com/recipes/ bbq-chicken-and-apple-bread-pudding

Sweet Tea BBQ Chicken

BBQ Chicken and Apple Bread Pudding 8 servings 1 package (8 & 1/2 ounces) cornbread/ muffin mix 6 tablespoons butter, divided 1 large sweet onion, thinly sliced 2/3 cup barbecue sauce, divided 2 cups diced cooked chicken 2 large eggs, beaten 1 cup half-and-half cream 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 & 1/4 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese 1 small green apple, peeled and diced Minced chives 1.

2. 3.

Prepare cornbread according to package directions and bake using a greased and floured 8-in. square baking pan. Cool. Reduce oven setting to 375°. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, heat 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until softened. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook until deep golden brown and caramelized, 30-40 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. Pour 1/4 cup barbecue sauce over chicken; toss to coat. Cube cornbread. Microwave remaining butter, covered, on high until melted, about 30 seconds. Whisk in eggs, cream, salt and pepper. Add caramelized onions. Pour egg mixture over cornbread cubes. Add chicken, cheese, and apple. Toss gently to combine. Pour mixture into a greased 8-in. square or 1 & 1/2-quart baking dish; bake until bubbly

8 servings 1 cup unsweetened apple juice 1 cup water 2 teaspoons seafood seasoning 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper 1 chicken (4 to 5 pounds), cut up 1 cup barbecue sauce 1/2 cup sweet tea 1.

Preheat oven to 350°. Pour apple juice and water into a large shallow roasting pan. Mix seafood seasoning, paprika, garlic powder and pepper; rub over chicken. Place in roasting pan. Bake, covered, until juices run clear and a thermometer reads 170° to 175°, 50–60 minutes. Transfer chicken to a foil-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Whisk barbecue sauce and sweet tea; brush some mixture over chicken. Place chicken on greased grill rack; grill over medium heat 3–4 minutes per side, brushing occasionally with remaining sauce.

Source: tasteofhome.com/recipes/ honey-chipotle-ribs/

Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce Makes 1 ½ cups 1 medium onion, chopped 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 garlic clove, minced 1 to 3 teaspoons chili powder 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper 1 cup ketchup 1/3 cup molasses 2 tablespoons cider vinegar 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce 1.

Honey Chipotle Ribs 12 servings 6 pounds pork baby back ribs Barbecue Sauce: 3 cups ketchup 2 bottles (11.2 ounces each) Guinness beer 2 cups barbecue sauce 2/3 cup honey 1 small onion, chopped 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce 4 teaspoons ground chipotle pepper 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Wrap ribs in large pieces of heavy-duty foil; seal edges of foil. Grill, covered, over indirect medium heat for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until tender. In a large saucepan, combine sauce ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for about 45 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Carefully remove ribs from foil. Place over direct heat; baste with some of the sauce. Grill, covered, over medium heat for about 30 minutes or until browned, turning once and basting occasionally with additional sauce. Serve with remaining sauce.

In a large saucepan, sauté onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute. Stir in the chili powder, cayenne and pepper; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the ketchup, molasses, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and pepper sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30-40 minutes or until sauce reaches desired consistency. Cool for 15 minutes. Strain sauce through a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl, discarding vegetables and seasonings. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 1 month. Use as a basting sauce for grilled meats.

Source: tasteofhome.com/recipes/ sweet-spicy-barbecue-sauce

voicemagazineforwomen.com | May 2022 | 29

The goal of Sudoku is to fill a 9×9 grid with numbers so that each row, column and 3×3 section contain all of the digits between 1 and 9.

CLUES ACROSS 1. Scream loudly 5. Antidepressant (abbr.) 8. The bill in a restaurant 11. Oblong pulpits 13. Adult female chicken 14. Abnormal breathing 15. Financial obligations 16. Belonging to a thing 17. Winged 18. Peoples 20. College hoops tournament 21. An informal body of friends 22. Region of the world 25. In an early way 30. Connected by kinship 31. Type of tree 32. Official order 33. Foundation for an idea 38. Small, faint constellation 41. Book lovers 43. Vegetable 45. Cabbage variety 47. A way to heal 49. Illuminated 50. Dish that features a stick 55. Insurance-related costs (abbr.) 56. Solid water 57. Soldier’s gear 59. “Uncle Buck” actress Hoffmann 60. Former measure of length 61. Arabic name meaning “spring” 62. Doctors’ group 63. Actress Susan 64. Appropriate

30 | May 2022 | voicemagazineforwomen.com

CLUES DOWN 1. Cool! 2. Hebrew unit of measure 3. Swedish rock group 4. College army 5. Black eye 6. One who stopped working 7. Teach a value 8. Rhythmic patterns 9. “MASH” actor Alda 10. “Friday Night Lights” director 12. Midway between south and southeast 14. Indian musical pattern 19. Fulfill a desire 23. Water soaked soil 24. Brass instrument 25. Before 26. Popular color 27. Peyton’s little brother 28. Partner to cheese 29. Put onto 34. “Much __ about nothing” 35. A way to mend 36. Anger 37. Soviet Socialist Republic 39. Mobilized 40. Resembles an earlobe 41. Cut of meat 42. Nigerian people 44. Recently 45. Square stone building at Mecca 46. Adhere to orders 47. Adventure story 48. Marine bivalve mollusk 51. Retrospective analysis (abbr.) 52. Actor Pitt 53. Tibetan village 54. A way to change by heating 58. A beam of sunshine

Happy Mother’s Day

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