It’s hard to believe we’re at the end of another year, but here we are again at the winter holidays. I hope that everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving celebrations and that preparations for the next big event are going well!
This issue our cover features a valuable and very special area organization: CASA. The letters stand for “Court-Appointed Special Advocate.” The volunteers of CASA fill a vital role in helping area foster children understand and cope with the huge changes in their lives. Court time can be upsetting for adults—imagine being a child in that situation! Read about Hillsdale CASA and its dedicated directed Heather Upton.
We also have book recommendations, our regular visit with little Brazley, and some recipes for great comfort foods. Please be sure to read the ads along with the articles, because our wonderful, supportive advertisers are how we’re able to keep publishing this magazine!
Whatever your plans for winding up the year, we wish you peace, happiness, and good health!
youngest
Whitley, was found “reading” all of our magazines. She had giggles of excitment as she babbled and turned the pages.
Since 2017, the Hillsdale Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program has more than doubled the number of local children it is serving. “In a perfect world, every child in foster care would have a CASA volunteer,” says Heather Upton, executive director of Hillsdale CASA Inc. “We hope that one day we have that.”
CASA was first started in the 1970s when a Seattle judge decided to put together a group focused on advocating for the child’s best interest in legal cases. “He started the CASA program by just asking volunteers to see if anyone would be interested in getting to know these kids and advocating for them in court,” Heather explains. CASA is now a national organization with programs in every state. There are 27 programs in cities around Michigan.
The Hillsdale CASA program was started in 2014. Michelle A. Bianchi was running for a spot as a judge on the Hillsdale County Probate Court and made it a part of her platform to bring CASA to Hillsdale. “She said that if she won the nomination, she would implement this program and she did. She has been a huge supporter of it,” Heather explains.
Judge Bianchi is still involved in family court, so she has a lot of contact with Hillsdale’s CASA and Heather. “Heather is an amazing woman. Her heart and soul are committed to making sure as many children as possible on the abuse and neglect docket are represented in court by the independent voice of a CASA volunteer,” says Judge Bianchi.
Heather says that a local judge’s support is critical for the success of CASA programs. “One thing I’ve noticed about CASA programs is if the judge isn’t supportive, then you don’t have a program.”
The kids that CASA is assigned to help are in the county’s foster care system. A judge, a caseworker, or even foster parents can request a CASA volunteer be assigned a specific case. “The biggest service we offer is consistency,” Heather says. “It is an ever-changing world for a child once they are removed from their home.”
When CASA is assigned a case, they stay on it until it closes. Before COVID-19, that process could take over a year. Now, with the backlog of cases, the process sometimes takes upwards of two years. Judge Michelle explains that Heather’s work during the pandemic was crucial to keeping CASA running.
“During the pandemic when so many people were crippled in performing their jobs, Heather found a way to continue to recruit, educate, and make sure that the children of Hillsdale County were still connecting with, and were being represented in court by, their court appointed special advocates,” she says.
Each CASA volunteer is assigned only one family or sibling group at a time. Once a week, they meet with the child or children they are assigned. “They offer consistency by coming back every week,” Heather says. “If there’s anything that the child wants the judge to know, the CASA volunteer can provide a written court report to the judge speaking on the child’s behalf.”
Sharon Turnbull has been a board member of the Hillsdale CASA since 2018 and explains that the work CASA does is critical. “CASA is important to foster children because their voices often go unheard. The CASA volunteers make sure those voices get recognized,” Turnbull says.
Heather was hired in 2017 as the volunteer coordinator, and since then she has become the executive director. At the time Heather was first hired, the Hillsdale CASA had nine volunteers serving 18 local children. Since then, it has only grown. Hillsdale CASA now has 25 volunteers serving 42 children. She says the community has been crucial in that growth.
“I love this community. They’ve been just so supportive of our endeavors, both with advocating for these kids and financially,” she says. “I’m the only employee that we have and, since we are a nonprofit, we run completely off of grants and donations.”
In 2021, Heather says they lost some of their funding, but the community has rallied around to help them continue running. “We lost a pretty big federal grant last year, and everybody came together with fundraising and things like that to help us out,” she says.
CASA volunteers must complete 30 hours of training, which allows Heather time to get to know each volunteer and find a kid that would be a good fit. “We spend a lot of time together and that helps me to match them up,” she says.
Danielle Gould has been a CASA volunteer since 2021 and explains how it has impacted her life. “CASA has changed my life and opened my eyes to the horrors that so many children face every day,” Gould says. “I am so thankful for CASA and for allowing me to be a voice for children in foster care.”
Heather has about three or four training sessions for volunteers a year and the next training will begin in January. She explains that a common misconception is that advanced education is required to become a volunteer.
“Something that I try to make sure everyone understands is that all you have to have is the passion to want to help. We teach you everything else and every case is different. There are going to be times when things happen that I’ve never seen before, but we’ll figure it out together,” she says.
Jessica Spangler has been a CASA volunteer since 2020. “CASA gives me the opportunity to positively impact children’s lives and make a lasting difference that matters,” Spangler says.
To learn more information about CASA or about how to become a volunteer, visit hillsdalecasa.org, find them on Facebook at “Hillsdale CASA, INC - Child-Advocates,” or call 517-425-4145.
“In a perfect world, every child in foster care would have a CASA volunteer”
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) are trained volunteers who work with kids in foster care and advocate for their best interests in court.
The holidays are a time for family and cheer, but making sure the house is clean, the food is ready, and the presents are wrapped and ready to be opened can be overwhelming. These factors can bring unwanted stress and depression in a time meant for happiness.
Some important, practical tips can help minimize the stress that accompanies the holidays. These tips may even help you enjoy the holidays more than expected.
Through the endless parties, cooking, shopping and cleaning, try taking one of 9 steps to ensure you have a stress-free holiday:
What with co-workers, friends and family, it’s inevitable that some commitments will end up on the same day. Make sure to plan on what you can attend in person or virtually. If you’re hosting the holidays, create a menu to help you stay organized and make grocery shopping easier.
With holiday commitments, it is OK to say no to a few or all of them. It also will help relieve some stress. Try sharing your to-do list with other family members.
The holidays mean spending money. Make a budget and stick to it. Spending money on your loved ones is important, but it’s also important to pay your energy bill. Don’t buy gifts that you’ll be paying off for the rest of the year.
Turn on some music, light some candles, or open the windows on a sunny day. Research has found that listening to music and the scent of citrus can boost feelings of well-being, and vitamin D is always a happiness booster.
The holidays are notorious for ruining healthy habits. A short workout each morning will help your decision-making throughout the day. Encourage your family to try snow shoeing or sledding to get in extra exercise. Eat healthy snacks like fresh fruit or vegetables throughout the season and to fill up before a dinner party or celebration with tempting, but unhealthy, foods.
Spending a holiday after a loss in the family can be difficult. Accept your feelings and open up about them to others. It may make you feel better to share. Try to switch up old traditions to ease the loss.
Family members will have different viewpoints than your own. Try your best to forgive and forget this holiday season. Focus on your similarities and replace tension with something productive.
You are only one person, and you can only do so much. Be realistic with how much you can handle this season. Forget about perfection and relax and enjoy the company surrounding you.
Don’t forget about your own needs. Take a nap, go for a short walk, read a book, or watch a funny movie. Laughing relaxes the whole body and can relieve physical tension and stress.
Holidays are meant to be a fun, enjoyable time with friends and family. These tips can help ensure you truly enjoy your holidays when stress starts to set in.
Life is incomplete when you’re not operating at full capacity. Don’t let chronic joint pain keep you from unleashing your full potential. Turn to the orthopaedic experts at ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital.
At ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital, our urology experts offer treatment for women of all ages who struggle with incontinence. If you find yourself planning your day around the bathroom, have multiple leakages per day, or have a constant worry about leakage, bladder BOTOX® may be for you.
Whether you’re suffering from arthritis, osteoporosis, sports injuries, tendonitis or other joint pain, we have the experts and surgical services at ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital to get you back to living your 100%.
We now offer bladder BOTOX® for women who are experiencing incontinence issues. This in-office procedure takes just 30 minutes with no recovery time. Get back to living your life to the fullest.
Don’t be afraid of the cold. Bundle up and head outside for play times and walks. If there is snow on the ground, go sledding or tubing, have a snowball fight, build a snow man, make snow angels, or just go for a fun hike.
Enroll your child in a class. Swimming, dance, gymnastics, or indoor sports classes.
Find indoor activities at your local skating rink, bowling alley, indoor park, laser tag center, or rock climbing gym.
Discover a local community center or health club with indoor basketball courts, pools and/or tennis courts. Shoot hoops, swim, or volley tennis balls across the net.
Rent or buy a children’s fitness video. Instead of watching cartoons and playing video games, push the couch and tables out of the way and work out together.
Turn up the volume! Stream your children’s favorite music and just dance in the living room.
Check out kids’ fitness classes or mommy and me group exercise classes at your local health club or gym.
Create an obstacle course in your house. Set up stations in your family room or throughout your house. Tunnels, hula hoops, jump ropes, steps, and exercise balls are great props for an exciting playtime.
Summer is not the only time for camp! Look for holiday camps and mini clinics at your local health club or community center.
Don’t forget traditional games. Twister is an all time favorite for kids and adults! Other classic games like Duck Duck Goose and Freeze Tag can be played at any time, even indoors.
children one-on-one, it’s equally important to give them space to come to you for help. Let them know you notice when they don’t seem like themselves but try not to push them to share before they’re ready.
While packing bags and backpacks for school, there’s one essential that may be overlooked: children’s self-esteem. Although many children may feel confident and selfassured at home, they can feel differently in the classroom. When children have high self-esteem, they’re less likely to reflect negative feelings toward others.
“If children can treat themselves kindly, they’ll treat others that way,” said Carter Peters from KinderCare Learning Centers’ education team. “When children feel encouraged, supported and loved, they are able to give those feelings to others.”
Be Your Children’s Cheerleader. When praising or complimenting children for their achievements, be specific and include affirmation for positive character traits, such as “You were so kind to help Ms. Delmar take her recycling out” or “I’m proud of you for seeing she needed help and offering it.” Being specific with your compliments reinforces the idea that your children are kind and helpful. Eventually, they’ll offer others the same positive affirmations and be less likely to look to outside influences to define their sense of self.
“When children have high self-esteem and self-worth, they know when someone’s opinion of them is untrue,” Peters said. “Children with high self-esteem become adults capable of believing in themselves.”
Give Children Space to Express Their Emotions Safely. While it’s important to connect intentionally with your
You can talk with your children about the ways they can communicate with you aside from one-on-one conversations. If they find it easier to communicate their feelings through writing, you can go to the store together to pick out a journal. Children who are not yet proficient writers may prefer to draw pictures about their feelings. No matter the method, be sure to make time to check in with your children.
Teach Emotional Literacy and Replacement Skill Behavior. You can help your children move beyond comprehension of basic emotions — happy, sad, mad — and toward an understanding of more nuanced emotions. When children can identify their feelings, they’re closer to developing healthy responses.
Commonly labeled “bad behaviors” are often young children’s way of communicating something is wrong, so they may need help identifying the emotion driving their actions. It’s important for children to understand that while their feelings are acceptable, their behavior may not be. That’s where replacement skills - acceptable ways to express emotions - come in. For example, try saying “It’s OK to be mad. It’s not OK to hit other people. When you’re mad, you can hit a pillow.”
For more tips to help boost children’s self-esteem, visit kindercare.com.
your children’s selfesteem.
Limiting the time kids spend on the computer can be a daunting task. But there are plenty of fun educational sites kids will love that make learning a blast and make their time spent plugged in healthier.
Travel to faraway states and countries at National Geographic for Kids to discover all kinds of critters and cool places. In addition to freaky creatures, there are fun things you can make as well as photo tips with Hilary. You’ll also discover lots of other weird stuff. http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
At NASA’s Star Child, there’s plenty to discover. Do fun activities, learn the orbit each planet belongs to, and match planets to their descriptions. You can even calculate your own weight and age on each planet. For teens, click on a link to NASA’s teen site and explore web pages to solve problems. http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html
This site will keep you busy for hours. Brain Pop is a fun site dedicated to health, science, and technology. Thrill at the awesome background sounds, and find experiments, activities, cartoons, quizzes, and animated movies. http://www.brainpop.com/
Math has never been so cool as at Coolmath4Kids.com. Do brain benders, jigsaw puzzles, and play the lemon-aid stand game to improve your math and money skills. http://www.coolmath4kids.com/
FunBrain.com offers all levels of educational games in every subject. Play Grammar Gorillas, connect the dots by ones, fives, and even backward, or take the Brain Bowl quiz. There are even parent-kid challenges and parent quizzes. Click ‘search for games’, and discover many more awesome activities. http://funbrain.com/
Exercise the left side of your brain with this fun science and math site loaded with fun games, quizzes, jokes, and videos. http://www.starfall.com/
At PBS’s A Science Odyssey, take an interactive visit to the doctor, play a game show called “That’s My Theory,” read comic stories about scientists, and learn about the discovery of penicillin. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/
There’s plenty to learn at The American Presidency—even for parents. Do activities and read fun facts about the campaign trail, life in the White House, and assassinations. Then, take a poll and share your thoughts. http://americanhistory.si.edu/presidency/home.htm
At Code.org, kids can learn computer science by creating online projects. These free courses are really more like free fun. Pre-readers can watch videos and listen to audio recordings as they move through interactive learning segments. The courses progress according to age, all the way through the teen years. https://code.org/student/elementar
ClimateKids is another NASA site for kids. It answers kids’ questions about weather and climate, the atmosphere, water, energy, plants, and animals. After clicking to read lots of fascinating facts, kids can scroll to the bottom of the page for fun activities, videos, games, and more. http://www.kidsplanet.org/
Smokey Bear and get the Bear Facts, learn fire safety, and help Smokey in one of several interactive games. http://www.smokeybear.com/
Kimberly Blaker is a freelance writer. She also owns an online bookshop, Sage Rare & Collectible Books, specializing in out-of-print, scarce, signed, and first editions; fine bindings; ephemera and more at sagerarebooks.com
written by Melissa McCance
the more that you READ the more things you’ll KNOW the more that you LEARN the more PLACES you’ll go. ` Dr. Seuss
Ah, winter reading! Hours spent wrapped in a blanket and lost in a wonderful book. This issue’s recommendations include some older classics, newer books that are becoming classics, and some that may become classics! Although these books are highly rated by parents and educators, you know your children best. We recommend reading (or at least skimming) the books for younger children to see if they’re appropriate for your child. Online reviews are available for the longer books.
This sweet book follows the travels of a little rabbit as he searches for the perfect gift to give his grandmother. The wonderful illustrations and narrative make this a perfect “snuggle up and read aloud” book.
A funny correspondence develops between Max and his favorite writer, an exchange of letters that covers far more than just books. Parent reviews have said this book got their own children more interested in reading and inspired some creative writing!
Milo is bored. Really bored. Then a huge mysterious package appears in his room that contains a tollbooth and other travel items. Milo dusts off his electrical toy car and sets off on an incredible adventure that changes him forever! This book works for reading to younger children and for independent readers up to adults.
Prolific author Neil Gaiman has produced a wild, madcap tale that includes time travel, the pursuit of breakfast, and many entertaining characters including dinosaurs and talking ponies. Many, many glowing parental reviews for this one!
continued
Your child might already like the movie, but it’s always worth reading the book! This novel follows Stanley Yelnats who’s unjustly accused of theft and sent to a boot camp type facility. The boys spend their days digging holes, and Stanley begins to suspect that there’s more going on than just mindless labor. Highly-rated and praised by many parents for getting their sons, especially, interested in reading.
Hope and her aunt travel to struggling restaurants so the aunt can help turn them around. The constant relocating has made Hope wary of forming strong attachments. But, when they land in a small Wisconsin town, she finds herself getting more involved than usual in the community and the people who live there. The book has humor, quirky characters, and heart.
This coming-of-age classic has been a best seller for over 30 years. It covers the friendship between two very different boys at a New England prep school during World War II. Many critics praise it highly for the quality of the writing and its treatment of themes like patriotism, identity, and the effects of war.
There was a time when almost every teen had read or was reading this book. Now we live in an era when people are denying the Holocaust ever happened. This book is not just for girls. It gives a compelling and revealing look at what it was like to be a Jew hiding from the Nazis, when, literally, each day could be your last.
written by Kendra Zieman
Being a mom to three boys is far from rainbows and butterflies. Most people would imagine it to be really loud, crazy, dirty, and sometimes smelly. They are absolutely right, it’s all that and more.
I always joke around that being a boy mom has lowered my standards and sucked all of the girliness out of me. The truth is that it has taught me to relax a little. It’s OK to have your pockets full of rocks, a little dirt on your face, or wear mismatched pajamas. Did you know that grass stains on your jeans doesn’t mean that they are dirty? It just means you’re a hard worker, or at least that’s what my youngest son told me.
Along with being a boy mom I have also taken on the role of being a referee. I have broken up more wrestling matches than I can count. Little boys have big emotions and somehow a quick brotherly wrestling match can solve their problems. This is one of the parts of being a boy mom that I don’t think people understand unless they experience it. My husband, who is the youngest of three boys, just went with the flow the first few times our boys pinned each other to the ground. It took me a little while to accept and understand the fact that boys can wrestle each other and then move on with their day as best friends.
Every time I tell someone I have three little boys they always respond in a shocked way. “Wow, your hands are full,” “All boys, how do you do that,” “Poor thing, you need a girl,” and the list goes on. The part they don’t see
or understand is that my heart is just as full as my hands. To three little boys I am the most important girl in the world. I get to be their shoulder to lean on, the hand they hold, and the one they come to when they want to talk about their feelings and emotions.
Some days it’s like I’m just another boy in our clubhouse but most days I’m treated like the queen. Our boys will grow up knowing women are strong and capable. They will act like gentlemen and treat ladies with respect. They will know just how important the mom/wife is in the family and that everything takes teamwork.
So, although being a boy mom can be very hard at times, it is also extremely rewarding. These boys can make my nerves and anxiety skyrocket just to turn around and unexpectedly kiss my cheek and melt my worries away.
It has finally happened. Brazley Lynn has started school. She puts on a uniform every day and gets on the bus with a smile. I am so happy yet sad about that. Part of me wants to keep her safe inside the house and part of me wants to see her grow. Absolutley no different than every other parent/grandparent on the planet, I’m sure.
The teacher has a system for letting the parents know how the student performed by stamping a color on the calendar for the day. Green is good, yellow is next, then orange. The first two weeks were all green and we fell into a false sense of relief. Then she got used to her classroom and the page began to see some color. First yellow, then orange. My first response was that maybe she isn’t thriving in a regular classroom.
My daughter keeps me calm and prevents me from going to pick her up to start the home-school routine (I know, I’m overreacting.) I did insist she call someone and find out what was actually going on. Brazley is not able to tell us what is happening, and I don’t want her or her class to be put into a difficult situation. The teacher has assured us that while she is very sweet, she does not follow direction well and simply does her own thing throughout the day.
I may have to admit some responsibility for that because our days are built around whatever she and her brother would like to do. My daughter and husband say I’m making life harder by always saying yes to them, but I feel it is a necessary sacrifice. They want to play in the pool? Sure, we have half an hour before we have to leave. They want to brush their teeth? Absolutely, six times a day have to be better than two, right? They want a toy when we go to Wal-Mart? Yes, as long it is a small(ish) toy and not a big expensive one. You get the
picture. As far as I’m concerned, my daughter can be the one to say no. It is her job. My job is to enjoy their smiles as much as possible every day.
Lastly, I’d like you to say a little prayer for Braze as we are probably going to need to have her tonsils removed soon. She has large tonsils and her primary doctor and ENT specialist have both agreed she needs them removed. The Children’s Hospital doctor is hesitant because of the complications that can happen during surgery with Down Syndrome children. So, we will be having a sleep study and a swallow study done before he determines whether to move forward with the surgery.
I am voting for her to have it done. It is heart-stopping for us all when she chokes on her food and I’m quite gun shy every time I feed her. We hate to put her in harm’s way with the surgery and we also hate to see her struggle with her choking. So, let’s send some healing prayers upstairs and let him decide what is best for her.
Take care and we’ll see you next summer.
Winter is here and though at times it may make you cringe, you cannot help but admire the beauty all around you. Use these ideas to explore Michigan this winter!
Experience the World of Winter at Grand Rapids. The winter festival is January 6th to March 5th. Bundle up and enjoy the FREE interactive art installations on an evening riverside stroll. During the day, keep warm at the Grand Rapids Public Museum or Grand Rapids Children’s Museum downtown.
Get away for a couple days and enjoy the best of Michigan at Crystal Mountain resort. From skiing to skating and snowmobiling there’s plenty of winter fun to be had and no prettier place to do it.
Muskegon Adventure Sports Park
Learn to luge like an Olympian on a oneof-a-kind natural ice track. You can go skiing, skating, snowshoeing and winter ziplining too!
Head to Little Bavaria for chicken dinner, fudge and Zehnder’s Snowfest! The timeless classic is great for a daytrip or overnight stay.
Traverse City is every Michigander’s favorite city and it’s at its best in the winter. Go skiing, tubing, ice skating snowshoeing and more. If you love winter sports, head Up North.
Explore nature in mid-Michigan at the Dow Gardens and take a walk along the nation’s longest canopy walk, 1,400 feet long, soaring up to 40 feet above the ground.
Ski, board, Sno-Go Biking, snow biking and more on Boyne Mountain and then rest and relax at Mountain Grand Lodge & Spa. Check out Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark while you’re there.
Echo Valley is ideally suited for families and groups seeking winter fun around Kalamazoo. Not only can you go snow tubing, there is a 60 miles per hour Everslide tobogganing slide!
Experience the beauty of nature in the UP and see the frozen falls. Michigan’s second-largest state park trails the Porcupine Mountains along the majestic Lake Superior.
Bundle up and cuddle up on the snowy shore and see the stars (and satellites) like never before at one of the first Dark Sky Parks in the world! When in Mackinaw, be sure to visit Mackinac Island – it’s uniquely peaceful in the winter months.
Detroit IS a destination! Home to 4 major league sports, world-class museums and entertainment venues, a beautiful and walkable riverfront, special events throughout the year and an ever-changing skyline – Michigan’s largest city is a must-visit.
Thick layers of snow prove no match for the voluminous wheels of a fat tire bike. Power through winter’s frozen landscape on the Noquemanon Trail Network near Marquette. In Traverse City, fat tire bikes carve up the snow on the Winter Sports Singletrack while farther south, Yankee Springs Recreation Area offers groomed fat tire bike trails, as do many of Michigan’s ski resorts. The Waterloo Recreation Area in Chelsea offers up eight miles of groomed trails and is a popular stop year-round.
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula waterfalls take a stunning turn in winter, when cascades freeze into oversized icicles. Try your hand at ice climbing frozen waterfalls at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. In nearby Munising, the Michigan Ice Fest offers ice climbing opportunities for experienced climbers and free clinics for beginners.
There’s nothing cuter than those first toothy grins, but cutting teeth is a tough business. When a baby is teething, parents often spend long days and nights trying to soothe their little one’s discomfort.
Teething affects babies differently; some may not be bothered at all, while others only have trouble with some teeth. Swollen, red gums are an obvious sign that teething is the culprit for your baby’s sudden unrest. Some other common symptoms you may not immediately associate with teething include unusual irritability, increased drooling, a low-grade fever, flushed cheeks, rash, rubbing the face, pulling on the ear, chewing, or gnawing on toys and loose bowel movements.
Each stage of a baby’s development presents unique challenges. Since no two babies are the same, finding the perfect approach to ease your child’s experience can take trial and error.
Begin a smoother teething journey for your family with these ideas from Malina Malkani, doctor and nutritionist, on behalf of Plum Organics.
When teething, babies often look for counterpressure that’s soothing on sore gums, which they can get by chomping down on a harder surface. Cool temperatures also help provide teething relief. Soothing options including silicone toothbrushes, silicone (gel-free) teething rings, or toys, or even a clean silicone cooking utensil from the kitchen can be placed in the freezer. Offer the item to your baby for chewing and mouthing, or gently hold it to the gums to help ease the pain.
Using a clean finger, gently massage your baby’s gums.
The little bumps you may feel forming beneath the gumline are the tips of baby teeth making their way to the surface.
Offering cold foods or liquids is another way to provide chilled relief. Breast milk or formula ice pops can be soothing on teething gums. Silicone nipple pouches work well as ice pop molds for infants. For teething babies under 6 months, fill the molds with breast milk or formula, or for toddlers, try freezing nutritious purees.
Freezing purees into teething ice pop molds offers babies two types of teething relief (counterpressure and cool temperature) while providing nutrients and exposure to new flavors. Some nutritious suggestions for purees to freeze include avocado or fruit blends like Plum Organics’ Stage 2 organic baby food pouches, which contain blends of pure fruit and veggies in flavors like Apple, Plum, Berry and Barley or Apple, Blackberry and Coconut Cream.
For babies who are teething but have not yet had a tooth erupt, try handing over a cold, large, peeled, raw carrot. Refrigerated harder foods provide the cool temperatures and counterpressure babies often crave during bouts of teething, as well as exposure to new flavors and textures, but in a form that won’t break off into smaller pieces that would increase risk of choking.
During bouts of teething, a baby’s lips, chin and cheeks can easily become raw and chapped from excess saliva and teething-related drool. Keep these areas as dry and protected as possible, especially when it’s cold out. It may help to apply a thin layer of ointment to further protect the skin.
After trying all other options, if baby still seems to be in teething-related pain, talk to your pediatrician
about whether over-the-counter pain medications are an option, and if so, what dosage to use for your baby. Most experts do not recommend using numbing gels containing benzocaine, which are unsafe for infants and not likely to help with teething pain.
Find more ideas to help navigate teething and all of your baby’s developmental stages at plumorganics.com.
1. Collect natural items from the outdoors such as evergreens, berries and seeds.
2. Using whatever size containers you desire, one smaller than the other. Place the smaller container inside the larger one and fill with water.
3. Place your collected items inside and freeze for several hours.
4. Remove smaller container and run warm water over outer container to remove it.
5. Light a small candle inside and admire the beauty!
1. Go outside and collect natural items to place in your sun catcher such as, leaves, pine needles, twigs, small pine cones or berries.
2. Fill pie plate or any round dish half full of water. Place small heavy cup 2-3 inches from the edge.
3. Place the items you found in the water including any other color fruits or bird seeds you want.
4. Freeze for several hours, in your freezer or outside if tempuratures are below freezing.
5. Set at room tempurature for 5 min. then remove cup. Gently remove dish running warm water over dish if necessary.
6. Tie ribbon through hole and hang outside!
become a foster parent
Children in foster care need supportive adults to provide loving homes until they can be safely reunited with their family. A loving family can help a child cope with separation and make sure they have opportunities to be a kid.
MICHIGAN.GOV/HOPEFORAHOME
By the time your child enters their teenage years, they should be getting ready to take charge of their own health. The more confident they feel speaking up at doctor’s visits, the better. It gives their doctor more information to support them through adolescence – and sets your child up for healthy behaviors later in life too.
How can you empower your teen to get more involved at doctor’s visits?
Reassure your teen that they can trust their doctor. It can be hard to talk about personal issues, especially sensitive subjects that tend to come up during adolescence like sexuality, body image, drug and alcohol use, and bullying.
Reassure your teen that their doctor will never judge them. Their doctor’s job is to listen respectfully, ask questions to understand better, and share helpful information
connecticutchildrens.org
Give your teen one-on-one time with their doctor. No matter how much your teen trusts you, sometimes they can only open up about certain topics with their doctor.
The best way to support your teen’s health is to give them that opportunity. With their permission, you can set the stage by excusing yourself from the exam room during the second half of the visit, giving your teen time to talk privately with their doctor.
Encourage your teen to write down questions to bring with them.
Sometimes, we all go blank when we’re in the exam room. Suggest that your teen spend some time before their appointment writing out a few questions. When the time comes, if they’re too nervous to read the questions out loud, they can hand the list to their doctor.
Practice starting these conversations with your teen. Starting a conversation with their doctor can feel uncomfortable, and it can be a challenge to know exactly what to say or how to express certain thoughts. Practicing with your teen, especially through role-playing, can help them get a feel for what they want to express and how to communicate their questions effectively.
(petsafe.net)
Travel with dogs can be an adventure any time of year, but during the hectic holidays it can be especially exciting! Whether you’re embarking across the United States or just down the road, there are plenty of dog traveling ideas and tricks to make the ride safe and comfortable for everyone!
Here are some guidelines for how to travel with a dog during the holidays.
Make regular pit stops. Be sure to stop regularly for brief, leashed walks to let your dog potty and stretch his legs. For long trips, consider looking up off-leash dog parks along your route. Some rest stops and travel centers offer fenced areas specifically for dogs. Pit stops are also the best time to offer your dog water, as it’s usually difficult to maintain an open water bowl in a moving vehicle.
Make sure your dog stays warm with a sweater or jacket. If your dog is small or has short hair, chances are he feels cold when you do and would appreciate something warm and snuggly to wear. There are all kinds of dog sweaters, dog jackets, dog hoodies and even dog raincoats available to keep him comfy. Remember, it’s also important to make sure your dog doesn’t get too hot. Some breeds like Huskies and Saint Bernards are built for the cold. If your dog is panting while wearing a sweater or coat, this can mean they’re getting too warm and it’s probably time to take it off.
Protect your seats from hair, paws and more. One of the easiest ways to make your car, truck, minivan or SUV more dog-friendly is with handy waterproof seat covers. Seat covers are great for keeping dog hair, muddy paws and other pup messes off your seats.
Give small dogs a boost. They can have their very own window seat with a comfy booster seat that includes a safety tether and attaches easily to a car seat headrest. These keep small dogs from wandering in the car and often help them relax by letting them watch the world go by out the car window.
Make your holiday destination feel like home. Your dog will be most comfortable at your travel destination if it feels familiar to him. You can make your buddy feel like he’s home for the holidays by bringing his favorite blankets, dog beds and toys along. Give him time to explore his temporary home away from home so he can get used to the sights, sounds and smells. According to the FDA, popular holiday plants like mistletoe, holly and poinsettias can be toxic to cats if ingested, so be sure to check for these.
Give your dog a space of his own. Find a quiet, place for your dog’s bed, crate and toys. Especially if your destination is crowded with people, many dogs will appreciate a peaceful place where they can take a break from all the attention. If he’s allowed on the furniture, lightweight, portable pet steps can help him get up and down. Place his food and water nearby where he can find it easily.
Make sure your dog has access to fresh water. If your dog is like many canine companions, he may be tempted to drink from the toilet or even the Christmas tree stand while visiting family and friends for the holidays. Make sure he has access to fresh, filtered, flowing water 24/7 with a pet fountain.
Stick to your dog’s usual meal routine. Another way to help your dog
feel at home is to maintain his normal eating times. If your trip’s itinerary makes this a challenge, an automatic pet feeder can help ensure your buddy gets his meals on time, every time, even if you’re late getting back from shopping or other holiday activities. This will also help keep him full so he’s less tempted to beg for Thanksgiving dinner scraps or other holiday treats!
Keep your pup entertained with fun dog toys. Looking for a Christmas gift for your dog? An interactive dog toy is the perfect stocking stuffer to focus his attention on fun while he’s getting acclimated to his new surroundings. And don’t forget to put some treat-holding dog toys under the Christmas tree to keep him happy and occupied on the ride home.
Car travel with cats can be a little tricky, especially during the busy holiday season. But this doesn’t mean cats can’t enjoy a road trip! Whether you’re driving across the United States or just down the road, there is plenty you can do to make holiday traveling easier on your feline friend.
Use a pet travel carrier. Cats typically feel safer in a small, sheltered space while in a moving vehicle. Additionally, you don’t want to risk your cat wandering into the front seat while you’re driving, or escaping out an open door or window at a rest stop. It’s best to place your cat in a designated pet carrier or crate at home and let her stay there until you reach a secure, indoor destination. Start preparing early. If your cat becomes comfortable entering the cat carrier at home, it’s much easier and less stressful for her (and you) to use the carrier when traveling.
Michigan
may have four seasons ... but you should always be comfortable at home.
Even if we don’t like cleaning, we all like having clean, fresh home. Did you know there’s a local service that can make a substantial difference not only in the cleanliness of your house but also in the air quality and the efficiency of your HVAC system? Ryan Griffiths, owner of Breathe Free Duct Cleaning and co-owner of Griffiths Mechanical, can remove the dust, lint, pet hair, and other debris from your air ducts and find any problems with airflow within your system.
“There are so many health benefits to having the ducts cleaned,” explains Ryan. “Removal of allergens and improving indoor air quality are probably the two biggest. It’s especially important living in Michigan where we’re coming up on the season of being indoors. Also, people think the dirt in the ducts won’t be disturbed, but the fact is that anything can jar it loose—a kid bouncing a ball in the house or someone walking heavily—then it’s airborne and blows out into the house.”
One thing Ryan wants people to know is that this is not just a duct cleaning company. His 22 years of experience in the HVAC business combined with what this cleaning system reveals regarding efficiency problems within the home’s system enables him to clean the ducts, diagnose any problems within the system, explain the issues, and—if the homeowner wishes—get the problems fixed.
The equipment Ryan uses will pull up to 12,000 cubic feet of air per minute, and, if they aren’t getting suction from a register, they know that something’s wrong. It could be a blockage or a disconnect in that particular run, something that a typical inspection of the system wouldn’t reveal.
One addition to a home’s HVAC system that Ryan strongly recommends is the REME HALO®Zero UV light. This low-voltage unit is attached to your furnace’s air supply, providing wholehouse air purification. The light’s technology breaks down mold spores, bacteria, viruses, and odors. It also passes an ionic charge to all dust, dander, pollen, and allergens in the air which causes them to stick together. This means that more of them are caught by your furnace filter so there’s less particulate matter in the air.
Ryan was motivated in part to being the duct cleaning business because of the current cost of HVAC systems.
“A system that used to be $3,000 to $4,000 is now easily $6,000. I hated the thought of someone spending all that money to install a new unit that would be connected to dirty, clogged ducts. They wouldn’t be getting everything they paid for. If we clean the ducts, then they get the full benefit of the new furnace or new air conditioner. That way everything’s right.”
The Breathe Free crew includes two employees who are trained specifically for this service. A duct cleaning begins with a brief tour of your home to locate all registers and air returns. Then the registers -are masked off and cleaning is done from one location. Compressed air is introduced into the ducts and special cleaning equipment loosens the debris from the duct walls. Suction then draws everything out of the ducts. All register covers are taken outdoors for cleaning and disinfection. Ryan guarantees the work 100%. If you discover something was overlooked or anything isn’t quite right, he and his team will return to take care of it.
If you’re interested in finding out more or wish to schedule a duct cleaning, contact Ryan at 517-297-0909. You can also go online to www.breathefreeduct.com and follow them on Facebook.
“There are so many health benefits to having the ducts cleaned,” explains Ryan. “Removal of allergens and improving indoor air quality are probably the two biggest.
Breathe Free Duct Cleaning, LLC is an experienced and knowledgeable duct cleaning company serving South Central Michigan; Serving all of the surrounding counties Hillsdale, Branch, Jackson, Calhoun residential and commercial property owners.
We use state-of-the-art technology to efficiently remove pet dander, mildew, and more from your air conditioning and heating ducts with minimal disruption to your daily life or business operations. Our services also include dryer vent and chimney cleanings. As these need to be done every six months to a year.
Most importantly, we offer outstanding customer service to each customer. Visit us at breathefreeduct.com to get in touch with our team for superior duct cleaning today.
By Dakota Harding
Most everyone has that favorite family dish that they will never forget no matter where life takes them. You may sit at many different dinner tables with many different people, but there is nothing like your great aunt’s, grandma’s, mom’s, etc., main or even side dish or that mouthwatering dessert for your sweet tooth.
My grandma showed up to every family function with the same wicker picnic basket concealing the same beautiful Pyrex dishes. She had her variables, but her usuals were what I looked forward to most, especially grandma’s coleslaw. I wish I could share this recipe, but I find myself digging through her recipes over and over again, always coming up empty handed. I have found a few coleslaw recipes in her collection, always feeling that rush of excitement hoping it is the one! Then, reading on, I realize there’s no way. I have deemed myself a “Coleslaw Critic” because I have yet to find or make something even close to grandma’s coleslaw. Unfortunately, I think the recipe died with her, but I will keep looking.
In the meantime, I will share some other favorites!
The tomato soup I am going to share tops off a cold winter day. You can use it as a meal itself with all of the toppings you desire or use it as an addition to a meal. Either way, you will get addicted when the special and unique ingredient brings back vivid memories of your childhood and leaves you wanting another bowl!
Do you have a hard time getting your kids to eat those good-for-you veggies? Or maybe you’re not a fan of veggies yourself. Well, on a chilling winter night try this chili recipe served in squash! The special ingredient— ketchup—is sure to excite your child’s tastebuds and each spoonful pairs perfectly with the sweet squash.
Everyone loves breadsticks, especially when they have a hidden secret inside: cheese! Warm them up and serve with soup and the inside doubles as a utensil. Yum!
These molasses cookies are sure to bring back memories of days gone by. Perfect for every holiday and one of my best kept secrets when you want a cold dessert. Use these cookies and smash butter pecan ice cream in between for an unforgettable ice cream sandwich.
Keep sharing your family recipes and make sure they are written down to be shared for generations to come!
INGREDIENTS
2 c. canned diced tomatoes
2 c. cold milk
4 T. flour
4 T. butter
2 shallots
2 t. minced garlic
1½ t. salt
⅛ t. pepper
½ bay leaf
¼ t. ground cloves
1 t. celery salt
⅛ t. baking soda
Desired toppings
DIRECTIONS
1. Mince shallots and set aside.
2. Melt butter in pot. Once bubbly, add garlic, shallots, salt, pepper, cloves, and baking soda. Sauté until shallots are tender.
3. Add diced tomatoes. Stir until heated. Sprinkle flour over mixture and stir until smooth and thick and bubbly.
4. Gradually add milk, stirring until smooth. Add bay leaf and let simmer over low heat for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Serve with your favorite tomato soup toppings and enjoy!
INGREDIENTS
1 lb. lean hamburger
1 small onion 2 bell peppers 2 cans diced tomatoes
1 jar Randall beans ½ c. ketchup
1½ T. chili powder 1 small jar pimentos
3 acorn squash
Cheese for topping
DIRECTIONS
1. Halve and remove seeds of squash. Roast flesh side up in oven at 450° until soft. It’s done when you can easily insert fork into flesh.
2. Brown hamburger in pot.
3. Chop onion and bell pepper and add to browned hamburger, sauté.
4. Add diced tomatoes, ketchup, chili powder, and pimentos. Stir well, add beans, and simmer.
5. Ladle into cooled squash, top with cheese, and enjoy!
1⅓ c. warm water
1½ t. instant yeast
2 T. granulated sugar
1½ c. all-purpose flour
1½ c. whole wheat flour
1½ t. salt
3 T. olive oil
12 mozzarella cheese sticks butter, for brushing Garlic salt for sprinkling on top
1. Heat oven to 450°. Mix water, yeast, sugar, flours, salt, and olive oil in bowl by hand or with stand mixer until dough is smooth (about 5 minutes).
2. Grease bowl, cover, and let rest until dough has doubled (about 1½ hours).
3. Punch down and divide into 12 even pieces. Roll each piece out, flatten slightly, and roll mozzarella stick into dough.
4. Place evenly spaced on baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap or damp cloth and let rise one hour.
5. Bake 12 minutes, remove from heat, and brush with melted butter. Sprinkle lightly with garlic salt if desired.
¾ c. shortening
1 c. sugar
¼ c. blackstrap molasses
1 egg
2 t. baking soda
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
½ t. ground cloves
½ t. ginger
½ t. salt
1 t. cinnamon Extra sugar
DIRECTIONS
1. Melt shortening. Beat in sugar, molasses, and egg.
2. Mix in dry ingredients until well combined.
puzzle fun!
Find the 10 hidden objects
Help him find his way before he melts away.
Write the numbers in the empty spaces so that each line contains the numbers 1 - 7. Numbers can not duplicate in each line. This is a hard one so the answers are on the publisher page if you get stuck.
Due to State budget cuts, we are losing our primary source of funding, but there are many ways that you can help keep our program in the community!
HILLSDALE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
is offering a donor match program! The foundation will match donations made through them, up to $10,000! Donations can be dropped off at the Foundation or mailed to them at P.O. Box 276 Hillsdale, MI 49242. Online gifts can be made at their website https://abouthccf.org/
Visit the Kroger website to link your plus card with Hillsdale CASA and a percentage of quarterly sales are donated directly back to us.
We are a registered charity with Amazon Smile. Select us as your charity of choice and a percentage of sales will be donated back to us.
Community Action Agency in Hillsdale County partners with Hillsdale County Community Foundation, The Beth Ann Blanchard Children’s Memorial Fund, and Walmart to sponsor the “Warm the Children” campaign to buy new, warm winter clothing for Hillsdale County children in need.
Helping Hands Pregnancy Resource Center (HHPRC), formerly known as Alpha Omega Care Center is located at 46 South Howell Street, Hillsdale, MI. Our mission is to empower men and women to make life-affirming decisions about pregnancy and sexuality through Christ-centered compassion, resources, and education. Established in 1987 under the name of “Alpha Omega Women’s Care Center”, we are the only Crisis Pregnancy Care Center in Hillsdale County. We are a non-profit agency; all our services are provided at no cost to our clients and are received through generous donations from individuals, businesses, and churches throughout Hillsdale County.
Material Assistance: Help for parents who choose life. Once a month, parents can come in for diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, and clothing at no cost.
Pregnancy Tests: No cost, lab-quality pregnancy tests are offered at Helping Hands.
Talk with your financial advisor or accountant about Qualified Charitable Distributions from your IRA, gifting appreciated assets, and donation of real property.
How it works: Applications are taken (during the application enrollment period) and families and children are served as donated funds become available. Volunteers then go shopping with families. Children must be 16 and under at time of sign up. Families may participate every other year.
Ultrasounds: Coming soon! Fundraising is complete! We hope to offer this service at no cost in early Autumn, 2021 and provide an amazing opportunity to save babies and affirm life.
Designer Purse Bingo will be held September 25th and we are looking for businesses, organizations, or individuals to sponsor purses. Please contact Heather Upton for more info. 517-425-4145 or casaofhillsdale@gmail.com
Earn While You Learn (EWYL): Moms earn “baby bucks” while learning through parenting classes. A wide array of topics span prenatal care through the toddler years, parenting and step-parenting, life skills, as well as special circumstances such as adoption. “Baby Bucks” can be spent in our Blessing Store on new baby/toddler clothing as well as baby tubs, pack ‘n plays, new cribs and mattresses, high chairs, etc.
Find us on Facebook at Hillsdale CASA, Inc - Child Advocates #changeachildsstory
Vitally Important Parent (VIP): Dads are important, too! These classes are just like EWYL, but are focused on the important role fathers play in the lives of their children. “Dad Dollars” are earned and can be spent in the Blessing Store, as well.
County:
Numbers: According to our 2019 records, we saw 419 clients. We provided 5,111 diapers and 4,267 items of clothing. Thirty-nine parents attended parenting classes, 303 clients came to our center for material assistance. Fifty-eight potential parents came in for no-cost pregnancy tests. Helping Hands volunteers logged in 1,846 hours.
Name and Logo Change: “Alpha Omega” has special and significant meaning to many in the Hillsdale County community, so WHY did we change our name? We chose a name that clearly and simply represents our mission and services to those who need our help.
Visit Helping Hands at www.helpinghandsprc.org and follow them at facebook.com/hhprchillsdale
