Welcome and Thanks for Reading Th in k abou t it ... For quite a while I've tried to make a habit of CHOOSING good reactions in unpleasant situations. It's not always easy. It takes effort. I look for good examples and try to emulate them. Sometimes the examples are found in the most unlikely of places.....such as my kitchen window. In my kitchen window is an unassuming houseplant. Like other houseplants, it doesn't make much noise, never causes any arguments, and other than the occasional watering, is self sufficient. Every few months I notice its leaves are facing the window and, from my point of view, it looks lopsided. I take the plant from its comfortable position and turn it around. This little bit of adversity causes a natural reaction that fascinates me.
When the plant is taken out of its comfort zone and turned around, it doesn't get mad, it doesn't place blame and it doesn't argue. It relies on its roots and gets to work looking for the light. Light makes the plant grow. Leaves get brighter, stems get larger and roots grow even deeper. In the light, the plant thrives and is strong. The world is full of negativity and darkness and it's easy to get bogged down. Life can sometimes take us out of our comfort zone and turn our world around so fast our head spins. When this happens, I'm going to remember the simple lessons I've learned from a houseplant.... Don't get mad. Don't blame. Don't argue. I will CHOOSE to trust my strong roots, look for the light, and GROW!
Be Posit ive. Be Kin d.
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A dam
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Con t en t s
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Raisin g Con f iden t Kids Page 7
CHOOSE magazine
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PO Box 162 Farmersville, TX 75442
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publisher@
Ch am ber New s Pages 16-17
choosemagazines.com
Reeves Fam ily Far m Page 18
Biological M edicin e Page 21
Ch ew s (f am ily r ecipes) Pages 23-25
Pu zzles Pages 26-28
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Cover Phot o by Carolyn V on Unsplash 5 CHOOSE magazine
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W ay s t o Rai se a C o n f i d en t , A d v en t u r o u s C h i l d
(Family Features) From taking steps toward the stairs to learning that bubbles don?t taste good, exploration is a part of development for babies and young children. While it?s an exciting time, it also can be coupled with anxiety and hesitation as parents find themselves saying ?no? or jumping in when baby discovers a new space.
An Open for Adventure survey from Babyganics found a majority of parents (69 percent) believe a child can learn to be more confident if he or she is allowed to explore freely as a baby. However, letting go doesn?t always come naturally for parents.
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Clinical health psychologist Dr. Bobbi Wegner encourages parents to be explorer parents, which focuses on raising resilient, confident and adventurous humans through challenge and discovery. She offers these tips for parents:
However, letting go doesn't always come naturally to parents. Aid in discover y. Encourage and applaud baby?s healthy risk-taking, such as mastering a challenging stair climb or pushing through moments of frustration and failure. Additionally, create teachable moments that introduce your child to necessary limits. For example, if you have hot coffee in the morning and your little one wants to touch the mug, let him or her gently touch a warm area of the mug with a fingertip and repeat that the mug is ?hot? to help encourage exploration and flex baby?s senses. Let baby be f r ee. While you may think baby gadgets are necessary for playtime, consider rethinking those toys. Instead of searching for stimulation through lights and sounds from a toy, allow your baby to explore the natural environment. Look for opportunities that allow him or her to make a manageable mess and even get wet or dirty. This could be as
simple as playing with a container filled with water or letting your baby pull up grass in the backyard. These small unstructured play adventures can help develop independence and confidence.
En gage t h e sen ses. Exposing your baby to new flavors and smells helps engage him or her on a multi-sensory level. For example, allowing your baby (at an appropriate age, typically between 4-7 months) to try new foods can provide a feeling of accomplishment while also exposing him or her to different textures and flavors. Encourage even more sensory exploration by allowing your baby to smell the food and even play with it using his or her fingers.
Pr ovide ear ly exposu r e t o n ew places. Bringing baby along to restaurants and other public spaces allows for positive exposure to new places, people and sounds, which can help build the immune system, encourage social interaction and support development. While letting a child explore in a public setting like an airport or train station can make many parents anxious, carrying products such as Babyganics Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizing Wipes can help ease parents?apprehension and keep little hands germ-free while on the go. Wait a m om en t . It?s common for parents to intervene the moment baby awakes from a nap or starts moving toward the stairs. Try pausing, allowing your little one to naturally find his or her limits while managing your own fears and worries. This tactic can allow your young explorer an opportunity for cognitive and social-emotional development with you as a safety net nearby.
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Brushy Creek Event Center can refer you to many vendors such as caterers, florist, rental companies, DJ, bartender or more. They also provide wedding and event planning.
may have. Our commitment is to you and our community. "Special Occasions with a Rustic Touch."
The owners are both CWEP (Certified Wedding & Event Planners) with over 15 years of combined experience planning multiple types of events. The event center provides indoor and outdoor areas for your special events. A beautiful location with scenic views of the land and tree lined pond are sure to create the perfect ambiance for your event. We can meet your needs. Contact us today for additional information, pricing, contracting, wedding or event planning, photography or any questions you
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CHOOSE things that makeyou a better person... CHOOSE patience CHOOSE gentleness CHOOSE kindness
M eet Ch r ist i Hou st on Christi Houston is the Executive Director of the Princeton Chamber of Commerce and her heart is full. A previous business owner for several years herself, Christi has a true servants heart for helping business owners and an uncanny ability to understand their wants and needs. Her love for the Chamber members is evident as she regularly inquires what she can do to help them succeed. Taking the reins as Executive Director in September of 2016, Christi hit the ground running. Knowing the importance of professional networking and community involvement, she works diligently to create and schedule events around business owners' full schedules. Regularly scheduled events include a business luncheon which is held the 2nd Wednesday of each month, a networking breakfast on the 3rd Tuesday of each month and a quarterly business night out. Annual events for 2019 include the always fun Casino Night, Golf Tournament, and a beautiful, lighted Christmas Parade. It's no secret that the city of Princeton is experiencing rapid growth and the Chamber of Commerce is growing right along with it. Membership has doubled in the past two years and shows no signs of slowing down. The recent passage of the liquor by the drink issue, which passed by 85%, is expected to
promote and attract even more growth with restaurant and entertainment venues finding it more beneficial to move to the area. Christi is constantly looking to improve the Chamber and herself by seeking out new opportunities for personal and professional growth. As a recent member of the Texas Economic Development Council, she is continually furthering her education to better benefit the community. Responsible for preparing and handing out several hundred welcome bags each year, the Chamber of Commerce plays an important role as often times it's one of the first places a newcomer to the area visits. Many times people come to the Chamber office just to ask questions about things going on in the area. The Chamber of Commerce is a great resource for business owners and the community. People Do Bu sin ess Wit h People Th ey Kn ow !
For more information regarding the Princeton Chamber of Commerce contact us: Princeton Chamber of Commerce 219 McKinney Avenue Princeton, TX 75407 972.736.6462 info@princetontxchamber.com www.princetontxchamber.com
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It is truly a blessing to have fond childhood memories. Aaron and Stacy Reeves , of Reeves Family Farm, have created a life that keeps those memories alive and well. Aaron has never forgotten fun times he had as a child picking produce with his great grandfather (Poppy) in his Amarillo garden. So it just made sense, in 2006, for Aaron and his family to embark on a new journey. Leasing 8 acres of local farmland, his initial plan was to plant an acre of okra and see how it went. With the ground plowed and a 50 pound bag of okra seed, all 8 acres were planted. That year a nice crop was produced and Reeves Family Farm was born. Anyone from a farming community knows it is just that....a community. Aaron sought advice from his father in law, Wallace Gilbert, and other local farmers, such as C. E. Fennell, and
was soon on his way to producing and selling his crops. For the first couple of years, the Dallas Farmers Market was a choice location for the Reeves' to sell their produce, but they soon branched out from there. The family farm produce can now be found in grocery stores such as Sprouts and Market Street along with several Asian grocery stores around the DFW Metroplex. They also market their produce through restaurant distributors Fresh Point, Chefs Produce, and Profound Foods. With this growth came even more changes for the Reeves'. In 2013, Aaron left his job as a postman, and dove headfirst into being a full time produce farmer. Operating on 55 acres, they now grow a wide variety of vegetables such as yellow squash, zucchini, sweet onions, cantaloupe, several types of greens, tomatoes and okra.
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During harvest time you can buy these products along with many other offerings at the Farm Store, located at 3577 FM 1377 in Princeton, TX. If you've never been there, you are missing something special.
allowing consumers to invest in their health, community and local economy. More information regarding the CSA can be found at www.reevesfamilyfarm.com.
The Farm Store, which will be expanding this year, plans to be open by the end of April. It is bursting at the seams and is stocked full of not only freshly harvested produce from Reeves Farm, but also a wide array of vegetables and products from other local farms. With pasture raised eggs, local grass fed beef, organic chicken, peaches, fresh shelled peas, pintos, a variety of canned goods, local honey, soaps, and milk, you're sure to find something you need. Reeves Family Farm will be joining in the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) system this year. This system connects the producer and consumer at a local level,
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Biological M edicin e By Dr . Lon a Sm it h
Biological medicine centers on discovering underlying sources of illness so that a tailored treatment plan can restore the body to optimal health. Practitioners of biological medicine do more than simply alleviate symptoms, we look for the cause of those symptoms in order to resolve the underlying issue. The body's natural state is health and as a regenerative, self-healing system, the body is constantly trying to restore its power to heal itself. If we focus on up-building the body nutritionally, emotionally and spiritually, we can support the body to find its natural state of health. Health is like a three legged table. One leg represents our physical health, one leg represents our emotional health and one leg represents our spiritual health. The table requires all three legs to be balanced in order to stand. Therefore, the foods we eat, the supplements we take, the thoughts we think, the people we associate with and even the music we listen to, all impact our health. Our physical health is affected by toxins, intestinal disturbances, food allergies, viral and bacterial infections, nutritional supplementations and food quality as well as our daily elimination habits. We must empty the bowels at least one time per day or we will reabsorb toxins into the blood stream through the colon. Our emotional health can be affected by our
physical health but emotional health also requires us to look at the people in our lives (who we spend time with and talk to), the media we watch and the music we listen to. We absorb the negativity from these sources into our lives the more we spend time associating with them. If we associate with joyful, peaceful people and live with gratitude, we will enhance our emotional well-being. We share the same emotions, eating habits, bacterial and viral patterns as those we associate with. Our spiritual health is determined by our efforts in cultivating spiritual development. Whether it is a connection to the earth, yoga, meditation, martial arts, religious practices, self-help reading, developmental classes or other practices this is important to our health. Spiritual development helps us to be centered, grounded and balanced. These practices help us establish a purpose and a centered joy for living. Focusing on the wellness of the whole person requires balance and conscious creating of your life. If we are consciously looking to assist our body with finding its natural healing powers we can utilize detoxification, proper diet, awareness of individual nutrient levels and emotional and spiritual balance. In todays super busy schedules, it might seem a bit overwhelming to think about conscious creating of your health. However, if we can spend a few minutes a day on our health, the
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body will take the smallest amount of support and create amazing results. The core of an individualized treatment plan for wellness should be: -
-
Up-building of the digestive system by healing of the intestines and GI tract to ensure the absorption of vitamins, minerals and nutrients vital to health Strengthening of the immune system to encourage and prevent future illnesses Cleansing and detoxifying the body regularly Up-building of emotional healing Cleansing and detoxifying the mind regularly Establishment of spiritual/devotional practices.
With special attention given to holistic nutrition, lifestyle and the mind/body connection, you can be empowered to continue on a journey with a sense of wellness and self-knowledge. (Lona Smith, N.D. is trained as a traditional naturopath and utilizes a variety of modalities in her practice including homeopathy, gemmotherapy, nutritional and herbal supplementation, pH balancing, applied kinesiology and lifestyle counseling. The majority of her education is European from countries such as Switzerland, Germany, Italy and England. Her thirst for knowledge keeps her continuing diligently in the education pathway. Lona's goal is to partner with her clients as they learn to support their own wellness and health.)
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Ter r i's Gr een En ch iladas 1 lb gr ou n d beef 1/ 4 t sp gar lic 1/ 2 lb m ild ch eese
1/ 2 cu p on ion 1 t sp salt 1 doz cor n t or t illa
1 can cr eam of ch ick en 1 sm can gr een ch iles 1 sm can pim en t os
3/ 4 can evap m ilk 1/ 2 lb Velveet a 1 pk g dr y Ran ch dip m ix
Br ow n m eat , on ion , gar lic, an d salt . Cool, t h en add sh r edded ch eese. Sof t en t or t illas in oil, t h en f ill w it h m eat m ixt u r e, r oll, an d place in 8x10 dish . Heat all ot h er in gr edien t s an d pou r over f illed t or t illas. Cover w it h f oil an d bak e 30 m in u t es at 350 degr ees.
Nan n y 's It alian Cr eam Cak e CAKE 2 cu ps su gar 1 st ick oleo 1/ 2 cu p Cr isco 5 eggs, separ at ed 2 cu ps f lou r
1 t sp soda 1 cu p bu t t er m ilk 1 t sp van illa 1 can cocon u t
Cr eam t oget h er su gar , oleo, an d Cr isco. Add egg yolk s, on e at a t im e, t o cr eam ed m ixt u r e. In an ot h er bow l, sif t t oget h er f lou r an d soda. Add t h is t o cr eam ed m ixt u r e alt er n at ely w it h bu t t er m ilk , begin n in g an d en din g w it h dr y in gr edien t s. Add van illa. Beat egg w h it es u n t il st if f t h en f old egg w h it es an d cocon u t in t o bat t er . Bak e in t h r ee gr eased an d f lou r ed 9" r ou n d pan s at 350 degr ees f or 25 m in u t es. FROSTING 8 oz pk g cr eam ch eese 1 t sp van illa 1 st ick oleo 1 lb pow der ed su gar 1/ 2 cu p ch opped n u t s (optional) M ix t oget h er an d spr ead on cak e.
Au n t Gr et a's Par t y Cook ies 1 1/ 3 cu ps bu t t er 2 t sp van illa 2/ 3 cu p su gar 1 t sp salt 3 cu ps f lou r 4 egg yolk s (save egg w h it es in separ at e bow l) M ix ever yt h in g t oget h er an d f or m in t o 1-in ch balls. Pecan s Bu t t er cr eam icin g Roll balls in egg w h it es t h en in ch opped pecan s. Usin g you r t h u m b, m ak e an in den t ion in t h e cook ies bef or e bak in g. Bak e at 350 degr ees f or 9 m in u t es t h en t op w it h bu t t er cr eam icin g.
Jam ie's Cow Pat t y 1 8 oz pk g cr eam ch eese 1 pk g t aco season in g 1 can bean dip Pican t e Sau ce Sh r edded let t u ce Tom at oes Black olives Layer all in gr edien t s in or der list ed on plat e an d eat w it h t or t illa ch ips.
CHOOSE TO PLAY STATEPOINT CROSSWORD
54. One of Indiana's quests
26. "The Goldbergs" sibling
THEM E: FACES AND PLACES
56. * On a prankster 's face?
27. Hawaiian veranda
ACROSS
58. * Like one at a haunted house
29. Memorandum, for short
1. Fraternity K
61. Selected
31. Accustom
6. ____Jeeves.com
62. Water snake
32. Not a gregarious one
9. Civil rights icon
64. Prejudiced person
33. * On a snob's face
13. Think tank output
66. Macho men
14. Like a dim star
67. Pastrami holder
35. * One receiving something unexpected
15. What pigeon did
68. South American camelid
16. * Up on compass
69. * Like one in front of Taj Mahal?
17. Shakespearean fuss
70. Create with cloth
18. Did like goo
71. George to George W.
37. A bit cracked 41. Hipbone-related 44. Monarch bodyguard 48. I in T.G.I.F. 50. Fit for farming
19. * On a novelty button
53. Deed hearings
21. Decline
55. Whale's lunch
23. Galley tool
DOWN
24. "Workers of the world, ____!"
1. Reunion bunch
25. ____-Air in L.A.
2. #17 Across, pl.
28. Way off freeway
3. Make waves
30. * Pain scale faces, e.g.
4. BBQ spot
34. "-zoic" periods
5. Masonry unit
36. "____ ____ good example"
6. Not home
38. Xe
7. * Like one at a funeral
39. Hokkaido native
8. Familiar
40. * Face in a text
9. * Face on Mount Rushmore
42. Crescent
10. Do like goo
43. * Like Jason's or Freddy's face
11. "As ____ on TV"
45. October birthstone
12. Put two and two together
46. Genealogical plant
15. Cerebral part
47. Capital of Taiwan
20. Clear the board
49. "Tosca" tune
22. Doesn't mix with water
51. Blunder
24. To the required standards, 3 words
52. Chopper blade
25. * In Beauty's magic mirror
56. Sound of relief 57. Opening page 58. A whole bunch 59. "Goodness gracious!" 60. Top of the Capitol 61. Repeated Cuban dance step 63. Needle hole 65. Makes feathers stick
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