January 2015
HAPPY
2015
HEAD SHOTS
Serious brain injuries aren’t just a football problem.
&
Spirited Fun
Psychic Medium Parties
RESPECT
Unique Program Battles Bullying
The besT plaCe fOr kids.
Ella, age 6 Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
Visit ChildrensOmaha.org for more information on how we can help your child. For a pediatrician, family physician or pediatric specialist, call 1.800.833.3100.
inside
on the january 2015
features
6 RESPECT
Unique Program Battles Bullying 14 Head Shots Serious Brain Injuries Aren’t Just a Football Problem
8 12
departments 8
meet the family: The Gines 12 diy: Organic Bookmarks 17 young hero: Young Mother, Young Scholar 18 activity: Spirited Fun 20 style: Five Fave Lip Colors 22 mind & body: Building (and Affording) a Better Teen Driver 24 food: Mac & Cheese 26 mom on the rocks: A Mom’s New Year’s Revolution 27 fitness: Extended Side Angle 28 calendar of events 30 the grandpa chronicles: Speak, Memory
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Volume 2 • Issue 8 PUBLISHER Todd Lemke EXECUTIVE EDITOR David Williams MANAGING EDITOR Robert Nelson EDITORIAL INTERN Claire Martin CREATIVE DIRECTOR John Gawley DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY & INTERACTIVE MEDIA Bill Sitzmann SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER & WEB CONTENT MANAGER Kristen Hoffman GRAPHIC DESIGNER Rachel Joy CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lindsey Anne Baker • Bev Carlson • Allison Janda Lisa Lukecart • Leslie Murrell • Kara Schweiss Kara Wesely CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Lisa Lukecart ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Gwen Lemke • Greg Bruns • Gil Cohen Kyle Fischer Angie • Hall • George Idelman ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER Sandy Besch Matson ACCOUNT ASSISTANTS Alicia Smith Hollins • Jessica Linhart Dawn Dennis • Sydney Stander OPERATIONS Tyler Lemke ACCOUNTING Jim Heitz WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Mike Brewer Printed by Omaha Print For a one-year subscription
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P.O. Box 461208, Papillion, NE 68046-1208. www.omahamagazine.com Original contributions become the property of Omaha Publications. Contributions cannot be acknowledged or returned. The information contained within HerFamily is for informational purposes only. It is not intended and should not be used to take the place of seeking professional advice, counsel or assistance. Omaha Publications makes no endorsement of and is not responsible for contributors or advertising herein. If you have concerns or questions related to your health, consult with your physician. HerFamily is protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of Omaha Publications, 402.884.2000.
On the Cover: Creative director John Gawley’s newborn son, MIchael Gawley celebrates his first New Year’s Eve.
4 HerFamily • January 2015
Owned and managed by Omaha Magazine, LTD
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The International Omaha presents the
2015 INTERNATIONAL OMAHA KIDS ART CONTEST
CALL FOR ENTRIES • Tickets to the 2015 International Omaha for your immediate family • Your artwork will be the cover of the 2015 International Activity Books • Display of the artwork on the CenturyLink Jumbotron with a public annoucement for the evening show • Omaha Mounted Patrol will visit your class/school with their police horse * • Special International 2015 eCreamery ice cream for your classmates * RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL OMAHA KIDS ART CONTEST: • • • • •
The contest is open to all elementary school (ages 5-12) children in the Omaha and surrounding areas. Only one entry per child will be accepted. The artwork must depict the theme of horses, horse jumping, equestrian or the English discipline. All artwork must be the student’s original, hand-done creation. Photographs and computer-generated artwork will not be accepted. All artwork must be in color on plain white paper 8-1/2 x 11 in a vertical format without a frame or border. Any medium is allowed (Watercolor, Ink Pens, Crayons, Pencil, Ink Paints, Marker, Chalk, Pastels, and Acrylic) • Artwork must not exceed 1/4” in total thickness. and eliminated • lettering, No signatures, or initials may appear on the front of the design. Any artwork with such identifying characteristics will be from the competition. • Winner and winner’s parents/guardians grants exclusive right to The International Omaha and its designees to utilize the artwork for reproduction, promotional purposes and display. • All submissions must be accompanied by the contest entry form found on the website at www.internationalomaha.com (activities/kids art contest). Contact information will not be shared without the permission of the winner and winner’s parents/guardians. • Original artwork will not be returned. • Mail to: The International Omaha, 1004 Farnam Street, Ste. 400, Omaha, NE 68102 • Questions can be directed to omahahorsejump@gmail.com • Entry deadline for submissions must be postmarked by January 31st, 2015. *School visit from Mounted Patrol and eCreamery ice cream distribution subject to school’s permission.
www.internationalomaha.com
Home of the 2017 World Cup Finals
The International is a Premier Indoor Horse Jumping competition at the CenturyLink April 9 - 11, 2015.
school feature Lisa Lukecart story and photography by
Actors performing a RESPECT troupe play recently at Millard West High School.
Just a Little Respect Theater Troupe Brings their Anti-Bullying Message I nto Area Classrooms
6 HerFamily • January 2015
“i
can’t believe this,” Troy says. “Sorry, Troy,” Nate replies. “Yeah, me too…f**,” Troy says, using a homophobic epithet as he walks away. And that starts it all. Nate’s voice is full of defeat, shoulders slumped, face downcast. Even with glasses, tattered baseball cap and a plaid shirt, Troy is menacing compared to a shorter Nate. Put yourself there. What would you do next? This is just one scenario RESPECT, an anti-bullying group here in Omaha, poses to teenagers. Using short theatrical productions, RESPECT hopes to educate youth on how to handle abusive relationships. Standing Up, by Nick Zadina, is just one example of 14 plays these professional actors perform for schools around Nebraska and Iowa. Executive Director Patricia Newman founded RESPECT as a problem-solving and communication tool for children of all ages. Bullying won’t ever go away, she says, but it can be decreased by education. Newman, a clinical child physiologist, is hoping students will stop unhealthy and violent patterns early before reaching adulthood. “Kids can self-identify and change their bullying habits,” Newman believes. “The more times you hear it, it clicks.” Just this year, the Centers for Disease Control reported 19.6 percent of high school students have been bullied sometime during the school year. Newman recalls being picked on as a child because omahamagazine.com
she was poor and from a divorced home. Luckily, she says teachers made the difference by making her feel special. “The power in the classroom is amazing,” Newman says. Millard West junior Cody Janke says Standing Up was realistic and “not your average corny play you see in school.” Once the play finishes, the actors allow students a few moments to write down anonymous questions on notecards. Greg, one of the 10 professional actors for RESPECT, pauses before responding to one student’s question, “Have you ever been bullied?” Greg (RESPECT actors asked that only their first names be used) mentions how someone at school had once left a death threat in his locker after he talked to the bully’s girlfriend. “I was terrified and a freshman so had no idea what to do,” Greg recalls. He ended up reporting the incident to counselors who helped the bully with his anger and jealousy. The class is quiet and not quick to volunteer, so the RESPECT actors change things up by role-playing. One of the actors plays the part of the bully as he knocks books out of another actor’s hands. “Okay, okay, so what would you do?” he asks the class. One brave student, freshman Dan Catania, volunteers to role-play as the bystander. His shaggy brown hair covers his face as he picks up the books scattered on the floor. “Dude, why did you do that?” Dan asks the actor. “Now, say you’re sorry.” With an infectious grin, he apologizes and tells Dan “good job.” With 251 programs each year and around 40,000 students, Newman hopes stepping into the action will teach kids from preschool to college to empower themselves and come up with their own solutions to make their lives safer. After the RESPECT team leaves, most of the students agree bullying occurs mainly in middle school. Janke, a high school football running back, believes many teenagers outgrow these negative tendencies. Tall and muscular with a bit of a five o’clock shadow, he admits to being the bully once in middle school, although feels some of it was provoked. Now that he is older and more mature, he says he feels it isn’t worth it to put other people down. Many students also say girls tend to be worse in middle school than boys. One of the freshman female students says boys are more willing to talk it out, while girls do everything on social media or behind someone’s back. Although statistics show boys are 1.7 times more likely than girls to bully, girls show a higher trend of victimizing others through rumors. “They (girls) are vicious,” she says with a laugh. “Guys are just like, ‘Bro, what are you doing?” Newman agrees bullying today is deadlier because of the intensity and how quickly it happens on social media. She hopes RESPECT will give students one more tool to transform something negative into a positive. Newman shares a touching letter she received from one boy: “Thank you. You may have saved my life.” bestofomaha.com
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LEARNING! HerFamily • January 2015 7
meet the family
by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann
Eternity, Devine, Lena, Rendell Jr., Rendell Sr., Destiny, and Elyon Gines.
8窶ォerFamily 窶｢ January 2015
omahamagazine.com
Meet The Gines
“d
Mixing Work and Play
oes it creep you out?” Lena Gines smiles sincerely as she looks at the turtle, one of several family pets the Gines family is currently raising. The turtle pauses upon my arrival into the living room, changes direction, and slowly crawls back toward the window. Meanwhile, a small dog barks from the couch as five children clamor their way down the stairs of the family home. Shyly, they slip around their mother and choose spots on the furniture to sit. Despite the whirlwind introduction, the Gines family couldn’t be more on top of life. The Gines children—Destiny, 17, Devine, 16, Elyon, 14, Eternity, 12, Rendell, Jr., 9—attend school and sports practices in addition to spending time with their family. Mom, Lena, and dad, Rendell, both work outside the home. While Rendell (“Dell” for short) works in an office downtown, Lena now has her own business—Get Fit With Lena. When she opened her boutique gym just off 72nd and Blondo streets in early 2012, it took the whole family to make it happen. “I was spread really thin working at several different places,” Gines admits. She didn’t have control over her own schedule, which, as a mother to five active kids, was difficult at times. It was also difficult to match up her schedule with Dell’s. But family has always come first for the Gines clan, which is why, when Lena told Dell and the kids she wanted to start her own business focused on fitness, no one balked. In fact, Lena laughs, everyone was used to having a sweaty mom. Before she worked for herself, she’d run from teaching a class to her children’s activities, not wanting to miss a single one. You’re probably thinking that starting a business would only serve to take more time away from the family, but Lena shakes her head and smiles. “The kids were involved in the whole process. Really involved,” she shares. “Dell and I gave them paintbrushes and we painted fun colors and had a floor and mirrors put in. My husband was a huge help on the business side of everything.” And once everything was up and running, the studio still didn’t steal Lena and Dell’s attention away from the kids. “It has opened a lot of time for me,” Lena insists. “Seems weird, but I can have someone come in and substitute for me or teach the classes when I want to go with the kids topractices and games.” It’s a flexibility that wasn’t there >
bestofomaha.com
HerFamily • January 2015 9
meet the family continued
<
for her before when she was teaching classes based on the schedules of companies she worked for. Additionally, the children didn’t mind that they were spending their free time helping out at the studio. In fact, as they’ve gotten older, it has become a place where they can work out on their own, or bring in their friends for exercise and fitness classes. While the Gines family enjoys working out together in the studio, the space has become a second home for the family. The eldest child, Destiny, celebrated her 16th birthday there. Additionally, the Gines family has held holiday parties and other events in the space, coming together in their labor of love not just for work, but also for play. To pull it all off, Lena says, “You will have to sacrifice some sleep.” She gets up very early to go work out or teach classes, so early that she often gets home before her kids are even awake. Before they were old enough to keep an eye on each other, Dell often stayed home while Lena went to teach a class or work out. Now, she and Dell or she and the kids can work out together if desired. Additionally, working out early in the morning allows Lena to get home, wake the kids for school, and get their day started with breakfast. “The health aspect is very important for my family,” Lena says. “They watch what Dell and I do and it’s neat to see what they’re going to be and how they’re developing.” While the family, no doubt, fully immerses themselves in being there for one another, they have learned one thing over the years: “I’m no good after 8:30,” Lena laughs. Dell chuckles and the children can’t help but grin in agreement. “It’s exhausting and it’s hard,” Lena admits. “But you have to make the time. I wanted to set an example for my sons and for my daughters especially. You can do the things you’re passionate about and that bring you joy.”
10 HerFamily • January 2015
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Nominate a Nurse Voting ends January 31, 2015 at midnight.
Omaha Magazine proudly presents the inaugural Excellence in Nursing Awards. Designed to showcase the region’s outstanding nursing professionals, we would like to honor nurses for their extraordinary contributions to patients, their families, the nursing profession, and the community. To nominate a nurse, please go to
omahamagazine.com/nursing Omaha Magazine will pay tribute to the top winners at an awards ceremony and in our May/June Omaha Magazine issue.
A completed nomination form, including a detailed description of how the nurse’s actions made an important difference in the lives they serve, is required. All nurses must be currently licensed, practicing Registered Nurses (RN) and work at least 20 hours a week. A national panel will review each submission and determine the finalists and winners.
bestofomaha.com
HerFamily • January 2015 11
diy
by Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann
12窶ォerFamily 窶｢ January 2015
omahamagazine.com
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h, January. The season of…nothing. Blistering winds and lingering darkness traps us inside, wanting nothing to do with the tundra-esque conditions outside. So what do we do? We hibernate. Light a candle and crack open a good book. Currently, I have my nose buried in Blue Like Jazz for the third time. Unfortunately, the parking ticket that is being used as my bookmark is not exactly setting an inspirational mood. I strongly believe that, whether you have a little or a lot, you should love each and every item in your home—including your bookmarks. The Free People blog has always been a favorite of mine. I remember seeing a post last winter about creating bookmarks out of random household items and elements. So this week I decided to give it a shot.
55
SUPPLIES • Small twigs • Yarn • Feather • Spray paint • Craft string • Dried flowers • Heavy duty paper • Modge Podge
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For a Cleanin
Reasons why
DIRECTIONS
1. For the first bookmark, I gathered some it makes sense. your home handmade paper I had at home. Since Molly Maid’s private label cleaning Ca products are environmentally safe, Trust Molly Maid to clean your the paper was so thin, I attached a few biodegradable and non-toxic. Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly, people pages together with the Modge Podge For a Cleaning home so for thoroughly, people Plan designed around Reasons why healthier my family, thenotice! products areIt’s guaranteed to are guaranteed to notice! adhesive, and cut out a simple shape. are all natural cleaners and disinReasons why it makes sense. your home and your lifestyle fectants, I don’t worry about fumes, 2. After spreading another layer of Modge residue or build up. Molly Maid’s private label cleaning it makes sense. Call your Local Podge on top of the paper, I placed products are environmentally safe, I’m doing my part to help the environment. Molly Maid’s private label cleaning biodegradable and non-toxic. Even the smallest contributions can make some dried, pressed fuchsia flowers into a big difference over time. products are environmentally safe, It’s healthier for my family, the products the adhesive and covered them with biodegradable and non-toxic. are all natural cleaners and disinMolly Maid’s “Small Efforts. Big Results.” MOLLY MAID OF C another thick layerI don’t of Modge Podge. fectants, worrythe about fumes, brochure provide additional informaIt’s healthier for my family, products tion about creating a more green friendly 3. Afterare letting the bookmarks dry for residue or build up. all natural cleaners and disinhome. Reasons why For a Cleaning a couple of I’m hours, I poked a fumes, hole in doing worry my partabout to help the environment. fectants, I don’t makes sense. your home Peopleit always notice how clean and Even the smallest contributions can make residue or build up. String through the top of the a bigpaper. difference over time. fresh my home is, now I’mlabel proud to Molly Maid’s private cleaning For Cal a Reasons why tell them it’s also Molly Maid Green products areaenvironmentally safe, anything youmy want: Yarn, craft, string, I’m doing part to help the environment. biodegradable and non-toxic. Molly Maid’s “Small Efforts. Big Results.” MOLLY MAID OFHome! CENTRAL OMAHA/COUNCIL BLUFFS Even smallest contributions make it makes sense. yo leather, orthe whatever fits additional best can forinformayou! brochureover provide It’s healthier for my family, the products a big difference time. Molly Maid’s private label cleaning Each franchise tion about creating more green friendly are all natural cleaners and disin- independently owned and 4. I chose to spray paint theatwigs I used home. fectants,are I don’t worry about fumes,safe, products environmentally cathy.tichy@mollymaid.com Molly Maid’s and “Smallthird Efforts. 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For the second bookmark, I cut some tion about creating a more green friendly franchise independently owned and operated 402.93 fresh my home is, now I’m Each proud to home. old yarn in various and dyed I’m doing my part to help the environment. tell them it’s also alengths Molly Maid Green cathy.tichy@mollymaid.com People always notice how clean and Even the smallest contributions can make A clea themHome! with different strengths of fresh my home is,over now I’m proud to a big difference time. tell them it’s also a Molly Maid Green coffee and tea. Home! Each individual franchise independently owned and operated Molly Maid’s “Small Efforts. Big Results.” MOLLY 6. While still wet, I tied each brochure provide additional informaEach franchise independently owned and string to the gold twig without paying tion about creating acathy.tichy@mollymaid.com more green friendly Forwhy a Cleaning Plan Reasons For designed a Cleaningaround Plan designed arou home. too much concern to the lengths or whyReasons it makes your home and your it makes sense. your lifestyle home and your lifestyle inconsistencies of the yarn. The pointsense. People always notice how clean and Molly Maid’s private label Molly cleaning Maid’s private label cleaningCall your Local Call your Local is for this to look organicproducts and are forenvironmentally the products fresh safe, are environmentally safe, my home is, now I’m proud to biodegradable and non-toxic. biodegradable and non-toxic. tell them it’s also a Molly Maid Green yarn to hang outside of the book It’s healthier for my family,It’s thehealthier productsfor my family, the Home! products when closed. are all natural cleaners and aredisinall natural cleaners and disinfectants, I don’t worry about fumes,I don’t worry about fumes, fectants, 7. The third bookmark is the simplest. I Each franchise independently residue or build up. residue or build up. simply held some dried flowers up to I’m doing my part to help the I’menvironment. doing my part to help the environment. 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Home! all three of these bookmarks. They are . . Each franchise independently and operated owned and operated relatively simple, but each beautiful in their Each owned franchise independently cathy.tichy@mollymaid.com cathy.tichy@mollymaid.com own way.
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HerFamily • January 2015 13
feature Lisa Lukecart by
photography by Bill Sitzmann
Head Shots
Serious Brain Injuries Aren’t Just a Football Problem
m
egan Scott turned downfield to get into a better position. Smack! A soccer ball nailed her in the back of the head. Megan blacked out for 30 seconds, finally mustering the effort to get to her feet. But then she fell back down into the grass. “I want to play,” Megan said to the referee crouched next to her. “You can’t,” he informed her. Her club team, Omaha Futbol Club 9798, won 5-1 in the state finals. Megan doesn’t remember much of that game. Headaches. Confusion. Fatigue. Megan felt all of these for the next month and a half. For two weeks, she attended school for only half the day. Megan had sustained a severe concussion; a major brain injury suffered in a sport many parents may still believe is immune to the damaging violence of the gladiator games like football and hockey. According to a National Academy of Sciences (NAS) study two years ago, football players have the highest rate of concussions among high school athletes, with 11.2 concussions reported per 10,000 athletes. However, many other sports account for the 3.8 million sports-related concussions per year as reported by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The NAS saw soccer, for example, as the most dangerous for head injuries among girls, with 6.7 concussed cases per 10,000 athletes. Lacrosse, meanwhile, has 6.9 concussions per 10,000, while basketball has also seen an increase over the years.
14 HerFamily • January 2015
Dr. Tarvez Tucker, a neurologist at the Oregon Health and Science University, says concussions add up over a lifetime and can lead to dementia as an adult. She also mentions people’s brains are not fully developed until later in life, especially those of males. “An injury that occurs while the brain is not developed can be more serious,” Tucker adds. Jacque Tevis, Millard West High School’s girls’ soccer coach, says she does not remember a time when she has gone a year without someone on her team having a concussion. Tucker says most concussions are not even ball related, but rather head-tohead injuries. Nick Brasel can relate. After sprinting for a fly ball during baseball practice with his youth baseball team, he hit his own teammate head on. “Where am I?” Nick asked his father when he woke up in a car heading to the hospital. Nick’s next memories are sporadic. He recalled being rolled into the hospital on a stretcher and receiving multiple tests, including a CAT scan. He has no memory of the incident. He was left with a bloody baseball hat, swollen cheek and eye, and a severe concussion. Like Megan, Nick fell behind in school and was able to go only half days for the next week and a half. “I had trouble paying attention and kept falling asleep,” Nick says. >
Brandon Bauer bestofomaha.com
HerFamily • January 2015 15
feature continued
Maybe a Cupcake FREE Will Help? buy one, get one
Expires: January 31, 2015
< Across Nebraska, Including in Omaha Public Schools, districts have begun adopting new concussion-related policies. Millard Public Schools, for example, has a new concussion policy this year in compliance with the Nebraska Concussion Awareness Act, which allows students time to make up missed work since cognitive functions can cause an increase of symptoms. Most doctors, including Tucker, believe students should have flexible schedules until fully recovered. Tucker says it is the responsibility of parents and coaches to get athletes “the heck off the field” when a concussion happens. Megan’s father, Tim, knows there is always a concern or risk, but says it is tough to take away something his daughter loves. If Megan has a third concussion, Tim may encourage her to stop playing. Tevis, though, says that, many times, she can’t see her players from across the field. She also has difficulties with athletes not informing her when a blow to the head happens. “Hopefully, these young athletes will start to recognize, as we learn more about how serious even a ‘mild’ concussion can be, that they have to be honest with us because literally their lives could be at risk,” Tevis says. Tucker notes that getting kids to selfreport symptoms of a head injury can be difficult. There exists a “suck it up and swallow your injury” attitude that infuriates her, she says. She worries students will be prone to second impact syndrome (SIS), which can result when a concussion injury is not fully healed and an athlete is hit in the head again soon after. The brain can swell acutely, and from there, everything can spiral downward with severe consequences. Even death. But, as any parent knows, it’s tough to tell a son or daughter they need to give up the sports they love. “I don’t think I could manage life without sports,” Nick Brasel says. “It’s a big part of my life.” 16 HerFamily • January 2015
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young hero
by Kara Schweiss photography by Bill Sitzmann
Young Mother, Young Scholar Not only did Marlen Fernandez graduate, she graduated early.
m
arlen Fernandez is counting down the final days until her December graduation. The 17-year-old Northwest Magnet High School senior is already earning credits toward becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and beginning some job-shadowing. Her educational goals are firmly in place: finish her CNA program and continue to a licensed practical nurse (LPN) program at Metropolitan Community College, and then transfer to the University of Nebraska-Omaha to earn her credentials to become a registered nurse. Ultimately, Fernandez expects to work in a newborn intensive care unit. “I am proof that you can finish high school, and even graduate early,” Fernandez says. “There is always a chance for you and if you set your mind to it, nothing is impossible.” There’s more to her success story, however. Fernandez is also a teen mother with a 2-year-old daughter, Isabella. And when she discovered she was pregnant at 14, Fernandez contemplated dropping out of school. “I was pretty far along and I didn’t want to go through the embarrassment and all the criticizing. I thought maybe I should just leave school to work, and try to do my best in life,” she says. “My parents told me, ‘Having a child isn’t a bad thing. It’s a blessing—just at the wrong time.’” Their ‘nothing is impossible, we’ll find a way’ attitude made Fernandez reconsider her options. “That’s what honestly changed my mind, having their support,” she explains. “I thought, ‘Dropping out of school will not get me far in life and I will not be helping my child.’” Her principal, Thomas Lee, agrees. “A high school diploma has more worth to it than what some young people understand; it does provide for your future. You do have higher chances and opportunities to be successful, employment-wise, with that diploma,” he says. Fernandez says she knew her resolution to give her daughter a good life would mean accepting the loss of some of the best parts of her own. “As a teen, you want to go out with your friends. But when you’re a mother, you don’t have time to go out... you have to make your time useful. I’ve made my child
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Marlen and Isabella Fernandez my priority. She’s going to be with me for my whole life,” Fernandez explains. “Your friends will come and go.” Support from community and school programs also help make it possible for determined young women like Fernandez to successfully juggle teen parenting and high school, Lee says. “Family Consumer Science (class) has developed over the years into a lot of different areas and teen parenting is one of those,” he says. “It’s just something we face in our society. Rather than ignoring it or running from it, we take it head-on.” Fernandez also credits a community program called Avenue Scholars with helping her stay on track through high school and beyond. “At the end, when I’m done with my college education, they help me find a career and I graduate from the program once I’m in my career and have everything settled,” she says. “Not a lot of kids do this,” Lee says. “They don’t finish; they kind of give up or maybe they give up for the time being and finish later. But this young lady persevered. That showed me her maturity and it also showed me the support systems she had in place.” Young Hero proudly sponsored by: Young Hero proudly sponsored by:
HerFamily • January 2015 17
activity
by Kara Wesely photography by Bill Sitzmann
Spirited Fun Parties get a lot more interesting with a psychic medium.
Medium Kelli Miller
n
ancy Langenfeld really connected with her dad at a recent party. He was able to communicate things to her that he never could before. Her mother and sisters surrounded her and heard his message, too. But here’s the catch: Her dad wasn’t there. He wasn’t even close. The last time Nancy saw him was on Sept. 3, 1993, the night before he died. Safe to say, this was not your typical family get-together. It was a psychic medium party, one in which Nancy and her loved ones (both alive and deceased?) had been looking forward to for months. Langenfeld’s daughters booked Kelli Miller—aka The Medium of the Heartland—and knew their mom would love it. “I was excited when I first heard that this was going to be my gift from my daughters,” Langenfeld says. “I have been interested in the idea of communicating with people who have crossed over since I first watched [psychic medium] John Edward’s show.”
18 HerFamily • January 2015
Langenfeld’s excitement mingled with a little apprehension. “I thought it was going to be a memorable night, but it was like stepping into the unknown. I felt like the group had started out on a journey together and I was wondering where we would be at the end of the night.” As the guest of honor, Langenfeld was the first out of the group of eight to complete her reading with Miller. Langenfeld asked to speak (via Miller) with her father, who was a devoted St. Louis Cardinal fan. “The first thing she said he wanted to tell me was ‘Haven’t you noticed the Cardinals?’ I was astonished. My dad always loved the Cardinals, I love the Cardinals and whenever I see Cardinal birds around our yard, I always think of my dad. I was really blown away.” Some came with a bit more skepticism. Erin Dahms, Langenfeld’s daughter, knew she would enjoy the evening, but didn’t plan on buying into everything Miller had to say. “I tried going into it with an open mind. I didn’t expect to be amazed, but also didn’t discount it entirely,” Dahms says. But while Dahms walked in with a healthy amount of skepticism, she walked out a believer. “Afterwards, I was pretty amazed by what she was able to tell us and the things omahamagazine.com
she knew,” she says. “I felt like she knew personal, detailed things that she could not have generalized or guessed about. It made me think of people who have died as still being present in one way or another rather than gone for good.” Miller says she has had much success with the party format. It allows multiple people to get a 15-minute reading from Miller in the company of their friends and/or family. “When I first got started, I looked at what people were not doing and decided to do parties. Word spread quickly and that’s all it took,” Miller says. Miller offers private readings, but loves doing parties. “I feel like people tend to learn more in the group setting. I am there for about three hours and people experience not only their own reading, but everyone’s in the group as well.” Langenfeld feels as though she learned a few things from Miller, not only to notice the Cardinals, but also how to get better sleep. “One thing she told me was that my dad was waking me up at 3 a.m.,” she says. “After the medium party, I asked my dad not to wake me up anymore so I can get good sleep. Now I don’t wake up anymore.”
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7/1/2014 2015 4:29:13 PM HerFamily • January 19
style
by Lindsey Anne Baker photography by Bill Sitzmann
1. NARS Cruella Velvet Matte Known for its lasting power, NARS Cruella Velvet Matte “Lasts through anything but soup,” says Anthony Batin, a Beauty Studio captain at Sephora in Village Pointe.
Red, Redder, Reddest
Five Fave Shades for Holidays
a
couple of years ago, my friend and I went out for dinner and drinks Downtown. She was wearing a fantastic red lip color—deep red and super-matte. I admired it throughout cocktails. I admired it through dinner (Indian—rice, curry). There it was on her cocktail glass and on her dinner fork, too. Even with that transfer, her lips looked the same at the end of dinner as they did at the beginning. “What lip color are you wearing?” I asked, as one would. “NARS Cruella,” she said. This was how I met NARS’ Velvet Matte Lip Pencil. Cruella is one of its most popular variations. “It lasts through anything but soup,” says Anthony Batin, a Beauty Studio captain at Sephora in Village Pointe, where Cruella goes for $25. Its lasting power is what makes it No. 1 on our list of the five best red lip colors for Valentine’s Day. Whether you need a polished powerhouse of a shade to get you through a romantic dinner or a lighter stain for a casual soiree with friends, we’ve got a shade and formula to get you through every event of the season.
20 HerFamily • January 2015
2. Make Up For Ever, Rouge Artist Intense in color 43, $20 Also known as Moulin Rouge, Make Up For Ever’s 43 is a rich red with blue undertones that make it perfect for cooler skin types. It’s not for the faint of heart—this one requires a liner and a bit of careful application, but it’s a beautiful choice for an after-work cocktail party.
3. Hourglass, Femme Rouge Velvet Crème Lipstick in Icon, $30 When I asked Batin about his top red-lip picks, this was tops on his list. “It’s the perfect red for every skin tone,” Batin says. “It’s not too orangey and not too blue.” It’s got a creamy, paraben- and sulfate-free formula, too.
4. Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Tesoro, $22 For those like Omaha mom-on-the-go Augusta Wester, who says she’s a little red-shy, a lip gloss or stain formula is a festive, easy-application option. She’s a fan of Sephora’s own Rouge Infusion Lip Stain in Red Essence ($14). Batin chose this Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Tesoro, an unexpected orangey-red, as a funky alternative. Both feature an easy-use wand and neither requires liner.
5. Kat Von D, StuddedKiss Lipstick in Hellbent, $21 Another long-wearing matte red—the claim is 10 hours—this rock ‘n’ roll-ready pick of Batin’s is another intense choice in a classic red shade.
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ESSENTIAL RED PREP STEPS Batin recommends anyone prep for party-red lipstick by first exfoliating and hydrating lips, as matte lipsticks can be drying. Thicker formulas like Make Up For Ever, Hourglass and Kat Von D require a nude lip liner to prevent bleeding and feathering, as well as a good lip brush, which can help evenly deposit color onto lips’ not-always-so-even surface. Batin said a hydrating concealer can touch up any dry areas around the lips, and when the night is over, Sephora’s new oil-in-gel lipstick remover ($9.50) lets ladies wipe color off with minimal rubbing and staining, plus a bit of moisturizing power—perfect for brunch-ready lips the next morning. bestofomaha.com
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HerFamily • January 2015 21
mind & body
by Bev Carlson, Lutheran Family Services
m
Building (and Affording) a Better Teen Driver
any of the financial aspects of parenting can be scary. Diapers, day care, tuition, sports, clubs, lessons, field trips… the list of expenses involved in raising a child from crib to college can be daunting. Recent estimates have middle-income parents spending $245,000 from birth to graduation on babies born last year. And that’s before college expenses begin. Since my oldest is a son, I’ve heard years of horror stories about how one day adding him to our auto insurance policy will cause our rates to skyrocket. “Whatever you once spent on daycare, will now go to pay car insurance,” I was once told. The factors that insurance companies consider: age, gender, marital and/or student status—all work against new 16-year-old male drivers.
22 HerFamily • January 2015
Well, frankly? It’s all true. But be assured, there are many, many things that you, as the parent of a pre-teen driver, can be doing right now to significantly reduce the sticker shock the day your oldest gets his license. I can’t stress enough how important it is to plan for this. Otherwise, you will be like the families who walk out of their insurance agent’s office absolutely stunned with an annual auto insurance bill that just vaulted well over $2,000. That’s not a one-time payment, friends. That’s every single year until their son turns 25 or otherwise leaves their policy. Here are a few things that you can do that will not only help you reduce your insurance costs, but also, hopefully, hand the keys to the safest, most responsible driver you can. omahamagazine.com
1. Contact your car insurance agent when your oldest is approaching time to get a driving permit (usually at age 15 in Nebraska). Find out what kind of discounts your insurer offers for safe teen drivers. Most major insurers have a number of incentives to give new drivers a great start. 2. Monitor your child’s grades. Boys with good grades can have their rates cut as much as 25%, simply for showing that their last report card was solid, generally a B-average. The reduction isn’t as high for girls. 3. Look into teen driving courses. The National Safety Council of Nebraska offers an excellent training program with requirements both in the classroom and behind the wheel. Classes are offered all over Omaha, all during the year. There is a one-time fee. You can learn more at www.safenebraska.org. Earning that certificate can slice another 20 percent off your child’s insurance. 4. Meet your insurer’s teen driver requirements. Most major insurers have their own teen driver programs, and once completed, those can shave yet another 15 percent off your rates. In our case, the program reinforced what our son was learning in his driving training, plus instilled defensive awareness skills I don’t think he would have picked up as quickly elsewhere. 5. Consider combining policies. Insurers give credit to those customers who have multiple lines of insurance with them. Not just multiple vehicles, but other lines as well, like home insurance. If the current drivers in the home have good driving histories, that will also bode well for new drivers coming onto the policy. 6. Choose your child’s vehicle carefully. There’s a huge, huge difference between insuring a new sports car with your teenager as the principle driver and insuring an older, less flashy vehicle for him to drive. Check with your agent before you buy something new. I promise you will be glad you did. We did, and it changed our buying decision. By doing all of these things, we were able to reduce our insurance costs significantly. Rather than paying thousands extra each year, we pay about $100 more per month to insure our son as a driver. As I’ve stressed to him, it really is up to him now to maintain that “safe driver” status. While he might not appreciate it much now, he will when he is one day making those payments. Finally, something else to consider. I insisted on a pre-license conversation between my son and our wise insurance agent. It cost nothing but time, but might have had more impact than anything else we did. Jim talked to my son, in a very positive way, about his responsibility as a driver, not only for his own safety, but for everyone else on the road. The great take-away from that meeting was this: “Son, this is the first time in your life that the State of Nebraska can come after you. If you are careless, reckless, or irresponsible, mom and dad will not be able to swoop in and fix it. It will be you, on your own, talking to the police or sheriff. Make sure you understand that.” That was many months ago, and so far so good. I hope some of these suggestions will help you find great success in creating a safe and affordable teen driver. Let’s keep looking out for each other. bestofomaha.com
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HerFamily • January 2015 23
food
sponsored content by Children’s Hospital & Medical Center
ingredients • 3/4 cup skim milk • 3/4 cup nonfat sour cream • 3 Tbsp trans fat free margarine, melted • 1 tsp Dijon mustard • 2 cups (8 oz) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded
• • •
• •
part-skim mozzarella cheese 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 4 cups cooked multigrain elbow macaroni (about 2 cups uncooked) 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs 1/4 tsp paprika
preparation 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly coat a 2-quart casserole dish or 6 (7-oz) ramekins with nonstick cooking spray. 2. In a saucepan, combine milk, sour cream, margarine, mustard, cheddar cheese, mozzarella, salt, and pepper and cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until cheese is melted and a sauce forms. 3. In a large bowl, combine cooked macaroni and cheese sauce. Stir gently to combine. 4. Pour macaroni into prepared casserole or ramekins. 5. In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs and paprika. Sprinkle over macaroni mixture. 6. Cover and bake for 30 minutes in casserole or 5 minutes in ramekins. 7. Uncover; bake 5 minutes longer, or until bread crumbs are golden. Nutrition Facts: Calories: 281, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 17mg, Sodium: 540mg, Carbohydrates: 35g, Fiber: 3g, Protein: 19g
n
Mac & Cheese
ext time you’re in the mood for mac and cheese, don’t open a box filled with high calories and processed cheese—try the real thing. You can have creamy, cheesy mac and cheese for fewer calories and much better taste. Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKids.com. The Healthy Kohl’s Kids program is a partnership between Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and Kohl’s Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness.
Yield: 6 servings
24 HerFamily • January 2015
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HerFamily • December 2014 25
mom on the rocks by Leslie Murrell
Photo Finished
i
A Mom’s New Year’s Revolution
attempted to snap a candid picture of my kids on the way to school because they had just requested silence in the car so that they could read. (Did I just hear that correctly?) I wanted a rare photo of them reading instead of surfing their phones. At first, I thought they were joking. It wouldn’t last to the first stop light. But five minutes into the deafening silence, I figured that I should capture this bizarre, unnatural phenomenon for posterity and Facebook. But Lucy caught me and begged me not to take the picture. She knew I’d post it on Facebook. Duh, why else would I take a picture? I used to scrapbook. But then social media and the digital age came along. For the record, social media is a much cheaper and lazier way to document my family’s every move. Suddenly printing pictures to glue into a paper book seemed like a very quaint, overly labor-intensive 1950s thing to do. I’ve noticed my kids thumbing through their scrapbooks lately. They like the idea of perusing photos and remembering the good ole days and knowing that this collective document is a unique
26 HerFamily • January 2015
family artifact. Maybe they show a select few elite visitors during a quiet moment of reflection; maybe they don’t. It’s up to them. They are starting to protest that 500 of my closest friends saw them eating cereal with a very clever caption. Reality slaps me in the face and I remember our rule No. 2 of social media: Never post a picture of someone else without their approval. The rules are for the kids, of course, but maybe not. Perhaps this is one parents should make a priority to live by. So, instead of a New Year’s Resolution: I’m starting a revolution. Take pictures of my kids for scrapbooks or picture frames only. I’m challenging us all to a face-free social media. It’ll require more creativity and, I think, change things up for the better while respecting our kids’ and those innocent bystanders by them. Facebook posts will be dedicated to very clever words. Think you can do it? I tell Max and Lucy about my big idea. They hold a stare, petrified of the consequences of rolling their eyes at me. It’d make a great picture…for a scrapbook, of course. omahamagazine.com
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fitness
by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmann
Extended Side Angle Sanskrit name: Utthita Parsvakonasana (oo-TEE-tah parsh-vah-cone-AHS-anna)
t
he extended Side Angle stretches and strengthens the legs, hips, knees, ankles, spine, chest, lungs, andshoulders. It increases endurance, stimulates abdominal organs, relieves lower backaches, and much more.
Exercise 1. Position your feet about 4 feet apart. 2. Raise arms so that they’re parallel with the ground. Actively reach out to the sides with the palms face down. Draw the shoulder blades up, back and down the back.
3. Firm the thighs and turn the right thigh outward so that the kneecap is in line with the ankle. Press firmly into the left heel and exhale while bending the front knee so that the shin is perpendicular to the floor.
4. Extend and reach up through the spine, firm shoulder blades against the back, release fingertips to the ground on the outside of the right foot (as shown above), or press the right palm onto a block.
5. Draw the left shoulder back and extend the left arm towards the ceiling. You may also reach your left arm over the back of your left ear to create space along the left side of the body. Turn head towards hand.
6. Hold and breathe deeply for 30 seconds to one minute. npdodge.com bestofomaha.com
Repeat other side.
HerFamily • January 2015 27
Calendar of Events
Dinosaur Train Live!
Extreme Planet
Jerry Seinfeld
FOR THE KIDS
FOR THE FAMILY
FOR MOM & DAD
SESAME STREET LIVE
IDENTITY: AN EXHIBITION OF YOU
JERRY SEINFELD
JANUARY 2-4, CENTURYLINK CENTER OMAHA. – 455
THROUGH JANUARY 11, DURHAM MUSEUM—801 S. 10TH
JANUARY 8, LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS,
N. 10TH ST The Sesame Street Live Shows are
ST. What makes you…you? Find out what makes
301 N. 12TH ST, LINCOLN, NE America’s premier
something the under-six crowd will be smiling
you tick in Identity: An Exhibition of You, the
comedian, Jerry Seinfeld, will be performing
about for a long time. After all, here are their
highly entertaining exhibit on display this fall
his signature stand-up routine. Seinfeld has
much beloved television characters come to life
from Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute. Children
been hailed for his uncanny ability to joke about
right in front of their very eyes. 8pm. $21-$117.
$6, Adults $9. 402-444-5071.
the little things in life that relate to audiences
402-341-1500.
- DURHAMMUSEUM.ORG
everywhere. Seinfeld now sets his sights on performing both nationally and internationally
- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHA.COM
BALLROOM WITH A TWIST
in 2015. 7pm. Starting at $64. 402-472-4700.
BALLOONACY
JANUARY 21, ORPHEUM THEATER– 409 S. 16TH ST.
– LIEDCENTER.ORG
JANUARY 10-31, THE ROSE THEATER—2001 FARNAM
“Ballroom with a Twist” brings a frenzy of
ST. Back by popular demand, Balloonacy
dance numbers featuring Dancing with the
SHEN YUN
explores the power of friendship. This sweet and
Stars pros along with So You Think You Can
JANUARY 13-14, ORPHEUM THEATER– 409 S. 16TH
inventive tale is packed with physical comedy
Dance and American Idol finalists. This ballroom
ST. 5,000 years of civilization on stage. This is
especially suited for very young audiences.
production, spiced with hip-hop and a few
the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and
You don’t want to miss this charming, award-
surprises, makes for an exciting family-friendly
music company. 7:30pm. 402-345-0606.
winning play. Starting at $10. 402-345-4849.
evening. 7:30pm. Tickets starting at $51.75.
- TICKETOMAHA.COM
- ROSETHEATER.ORG
402-345-0606. - TICKETOMAHA.COM
AMERICAN MODERNS: FROM O’KEEFFE TO ROCKWELL
JANUARY 23, ORPHEUM THEATER– 409 S. 16TH ST.
EXTREME PLANET
FEBRUARY 8-MAY 17, JOSLYN ART MUSEUM—2200
Dinosaur Train Live! Buddy’s Big Adventure
FEBRUARY 10, HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS
DODGE ST. This exhibition explores the ways
brings the beloved stars of the hit PBS series
CENTER—1200 DOUGLAS ST. Take an electrifying
American artists including Georgia O’Keeffe,
to Omaha for the first time. Come join Buddy,
journey into some of our planet’s most extreme
Marsden Hartley, Stuart Davis, Rockwell Kent,
Tiny, King, Don, and more in this fun-filled,
environments with Carsten Peter. The German
and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern
interactive and immersive live trip back in time
photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically
world. This exhibition will have a ticket fee. Free
to an age when dinosaurs roamed the earth…
obsessed with devising innovative photographic
for members, youth ages 17 and younger, &
and rode in trains. 7 pm. Tickets starting at $22.
techniques that allow him to capture dramatic,
college students with ID. 402-342-3300.
402-345-0606.
never-before-seen images of places few
-JOSLYN.ORG
- TICKETOMAHA.COM
humans have dared ever go. 7:30pm. $22.
DINOSAUR TRAIN LIVE!
JOHN TARGALIA’S IMAGINOCEAN
402-345-0606.
THE SECOND CITY
-TICKETOMAHA.COM
FEBRUARY 26, LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS, 301 N. 12TH ST, LINCOLN, NE. This hilarious cast of
FEBRUARY 19, ORPHEUM THEATER– 409 S. 16TH ST. A one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show, John
PIXAR IN CONCERT
comedians joins a long line of former Second
Tartaglia’s ImaginOcean is a magical undersea
FEBRUARY 14, HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS
City performers who have gone on to super-
adventure for kids of all ages. Jam-packed with
CENTER—1200 DOUGLAS ST. Treat your family
star status, including John Belushi, Bill Murray,
music ranging from swing to R&B to Big Band,
to favorite scenes from Disney/Pixar films,
Steve Carell, Tina Fey, and Stephen Colbert. The
John Tartaglia’s ImaginOcean is a blast from
including Toy Story, Wall-E, Up, and Brave—
Second City comedians take on all the news
first big splash to the last wave goodbye. 7 pm.
all with the scores played live while visually
that’s fits to twist, served with a side of famous
Tickets starting at $22. 402-345-0606.
stunning clips from the movies play on the
Chicago-style improv. 7:30pm. Starting at $20.
- TICKETOMAHA.COM
big screen. 7:30pm. Tickets starting at $22.
402-472-4700.
402-345-0606.
– LIEDCENTER.ORG
– OMAHASYMPHONY.ORG
28 HerFamily • January 2015
omahamagazine.com
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HerFamily • January 2015 29
the grandpa chronicles by David Williams
Speak, Memory Metaphysical Meanderings
i
’ve written before about Omaha not being a city of six degrees of separation, but instead being one of maybe two or three degrees at most. I found out once again how true that was in the steamy confines of a local swimming pool. A recent Saturday morning found me up at Monroe Middle School working on a story about legendary swimming instructor Rose Baker. She’s been teaching for over half a century and I knew that finding a second-generation parent would be important for that piece, meaning that I was looking for a young parent who was once taught by Baker and was now having his or her kids learn from the same seasoned pro. It was perhaps no huge surprise to find two such parents at the pool that day. The two degrees of separation here was the fact that both happened to be high school classmates of my eldest son, Eric, the father of my grandkids, Easton (5) and Barrett (3). The last time I saw Raye Sullivan (nee Bowen), she was probably in a cheerleader get-up across the parking lot at Benson High School. Now she has four kids of her own. Brian Neu was there as well. He was an inner-circle member of the group of kids my son hung out with. Memory is a funny thing. I tend to remember my kids’ now-adult friends as specimens preserved in a deep freeze. Neu, for example, will forever be a carefree 16-year-old. He will forever be tucked away in my noggin’ as part of the gang of teen guys whose thirst for playful adventures (misadventures?) is now the stuff of family legend.
30 HerFamily • January 2015
But Neu isn’t 16 any more. He is now 33. He has a wife and two daughters. He’s trusted to be an electrician, fiddling around with all kinds of dangerous juice. He has a mortgage. He thinks about bills and college for the kids. He’s even probably somewhere along the way learned to pick up his room and put the milk back in the fridge. That’s the funny thing about memory. It frames how we see and process the world around us, but it is rarely accurate in any true sense and can sometimes be decades out of date, leaving in this case gaping holes in my brain’s Brian and Raye data files. All of which takes me back to my own grandkids. They are flesh and blood only when we are together in the here and now. The moment we separate they are, like it or not, nothing more than an amalgam of memories, nothing more than electrical impulses ricocheting around in my unreliable noodle. Which just doesn’t seem fair at all. I want them to have a corporeal existence outside of and independent of the artificial constructs suggested by my metaphysical meanderings. I don’t want to bank on the often iffy faculty of memory as the only tool which serves to define my grandkids. I want them to be more. I want them to be real.
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HerFamily • January 2015 31
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