Volume 3, Issue 1January | February | March 2012Complimentary

Mary WaldoWritten Straightwith Crooked Lines

FromOur

Inbox

“Awesome job on bringing the magazine to the Lake Region…it’s positive, inspir-ing, and gives you that reminder of the wonderful people you surround yourself with in a community…that’s awesome. Thank you.”

-Aimee Larson

“I have finally gotten my hands on your magazine and read the issue from cover to cover. The layout, content, etc. are fantastic. I live in the Lake Region and am unaware of certain organizations and resources right here. Congratulations on a wonderful LR Woman magazine.”

-Annette Hofstad

“I love your magazine and can’t wait for the next issue! This latest issue was a trip down memory lane as you wrote about your great aunt Jennie. I grew up in Rock Lake and my family attended the Mt. View country church along with the Efraim-sons. Jennie was my Sunday School teacher for years and back then young girls wore hats to church just like Jennie and the other ladies. Thanks for the article and all the memories that it brought to mind. Keep up the great work. The article on Christmas shopping is right up my alley too and I really want to stop in Petersburg the next time we go by!”

-Diane (Eckholm) Leas 2 Lake Region Woman | Winter

Message from the EditorOne of the many joys of having a new business is being, what I lovingly call, a transient worker. My hours are not typical and my schedule is usually determined by my young children. My work space has to be portable, my computer must always be fully charged, and if the kids are sleeping, then I’m working.

It was during one of those transient working moments when I encountered a unique group of women. I was diligently working at a table in the back room of The Liquid Bean (one of my frequent haunts), when I noticed a woman nearby pushing tables together.She asked if it would bother me if a group met while I was there. Impressed with her concern for me, I told her it wouldn’t be a problem at all. Allowing a minute to go by, and not being able to suppress my nosey journalistic side, I asked her about the group. Her face lit up as she ex-plained that this was a group of women who previ-ously worked for the Lake Region Lutheran Home. These women gather every year on Veterans Day to catch up on recent events on their journey through retirement and also to reminisce about the good ole days.

I couldn’t help but smile and admire these women as they filed into the back room at “The Bean,” greeting each other with warm hugs and smiles. Think about the impact that these ladies had on one another during their careers. Imagine the laughs, tears, and unspoken words they each shared. What a beautiful thing it is to connect with people on such a high level that you maintain a tradition such as this.

I asked these women, whom I quietly envied, if I could take their picture for the magazine. It was such a joy to stumble across an inspiring group of women that I wanted to share them with all of you. I can only hope that someday I can experience the type of friendship that these women have.

-Autumn

From left to right in the back row: Pam Kenner, Betty Herda, Agnes Regan, Nancy Black, Joann Hahn, and Helen Regan.From left to right in the front: Sharon Hoffmann, Ade-line (Fredrickson) Turkula, and Betty Bloomquist.

If you would like to become a contributor for Lake Region Woman, please contact us via email at lakeregionwoman@live.com or call us at 701-261-2692. We are currently searching for experts in their industry to submit articles relevant to women in our area.

PublisherGraber Media, LLC

Editor

Autumn Graber, (701) 261-2692

Account ManagerKelly Graber, (701) 740-3848

Copy EditorMariLou Harveland

Design/Layout/PhotographyAutumn Graber

Distributors:Devils Lake Just For Kix Dance Studio

Devils Lake Regional AirportGrace Kurtz, lia sophia

Hinrichs Supervalu in HarveyJill Edinger, Private Quarters

Leevers County Market in Devils LakeLeevers County Market in Rugby

Miller’s Fresh Foods in New RockfordMr. & Mrs. J’s in Devils Lake

Munich Grocery StoreOld Main in Devils LakeOne Stop in Devils Lake

Rolette SupervaluSupermarket Foods in Cando

The Liquid Bean in Devils LakeWally’s Supermarket in Devils Lake

Warehouse Foods in LangdonWimer’s Grocery in Lakota

Printed in North Dakota. © 2012 Graber Media, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without writ-ten permission from the publisher. Lake Region Woman Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photo-graphs. Lake Region Woman Magazine does not necessarily endorse or agree with content of articles or advertising presented.

This magazine is printed on an environmentally certified paper that con-tains a 10% post-consumer waste. FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council™) is an international, non-profit association that promotes well-managed for-ests by ensuring forestry practices that are environmentally responsible, socially equitable, and economically viable.

Mail correspondence to:Lake Region Woman

P.O. Box 705Devils Lake, ND 58301

lakeregionwoman@live.com

www.lakeregionwoman.comwww.facebook.com/lakeregionwoman

www.twitter.com/lakeregionwoman

Winter | Lake Region Woman 3

Table of Contents

5 Event Guide

6 Hot Spots to Shop

10 Kettle Corn Crispy Bar Recipe

12 2012: The Year of Clearing the Clutter

14 Wedding Photography

16 Deadly Depression

20 Aging Options

22 Child Photography

24 Ladies Who Launch: Denice Casavant

27 This Day

28 A Life of Crooked Lines Becomes a Blessing

)620 14th Avenue NE | Devils Lake(701)662-4905 | www.heartlandcare.org

Mom’s happy... that’s what matters.

301 4th St. NE Devils Lake ND 58301-2411701-662-4976 or 800-726-8014Fax 701-662-6752

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4 Lake Region Woman | Winter

JanuaryNational Mentoring MonthNational Mentoring Month focuses attention on the need for mentors and how each of us—individuals, businesses, govern-ment agencies, schools, faith communities, and nonprofits—can work together to increase the number of mentors to ensure brighter futures for our young people.

January 5Royal SocialThis fundraiser for the LRSC Community College Foundation is a casual, open house event. Beverages and snacks will be served, and all attendees will have a chance to win a purse full of trea-sures. To RSVP to an upcoming social, contact Annette Schmid by phone at (701) 662-1641.

January 12Wine and Art Show7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.Fireside Inn & SuitesJoin the Fireside Inn & Suites every second Thursday of the month for their Wine and Art shows. The Liquor Locker will bring samples of wine and appetizers will be available.

January 24Steve Stark: Historian and Cartoonist7:00 p.m.NDSU Research Center, Langdon

January 28Devils Lake Volunteer Fire Department Ice Fishing Tournament

January 28Hotel California Concert7:00 p.m.Spirit Lake Casino

February 2Royal SocialThis fundraiser for the LRSC Community College Foundation is a casual, open house event. Beverages and snacks will be served, and all attendees will have a chance to win a purse full of trea-sures. To RSVP to an upcoming social, contact Annette Schmid by phone at (701) 662-1641.

February 7Community Concert Series, Scott Woods Band7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.Audiences marvel when they sit back and listen to the Scott Woods Band. Scott combines his masterful playing ability, a wonderful sense of humor, and an incredibly talented group of musicians, putting it all together into a top-notch fiddle variety show that is sure to delight audiences of all ages.

February 9Wine and Art Show7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.Fireside Inn & SuitesJoin the Fireside Inn & Suites every second Thursday of the month for their Wine and Art shows. The Liquor Locker will bring samples of wine and appetizers will be available.

February 14National Have-A-Heart Day

February 17 – 19ShiverfestSome of the events that are slated for 2012 include a mite hockey tournament, quilt show, youth ice fishing tournament, kite fly-ing, woodcarving demonstrations, a golf course on the ice, ice rallycross event, motorcycle show, sleigh rides, pond hockey tournament, home-based business showcase, motorcycle show, and concessions.

February 21Drawing Class7:00 p.m. to 9 p.m.Langdon Area High School(Also held on February 28, March 6, and March 13)

MarchNational Women’s History MonthA special Presidential Proclamation is issued every year that hon-ors the extraordinary achievements of American women.

March 1Royal SocialThis fundraiser for the LRSC Community College Foundation is a casual, open house event. Beverages and snacks will be served, and all attendees will have a chance to win a purse full of trea-sures. To RSVP to an upcoming social, contact Annette Schmid by phone at (701) 662-1641.

March 8Wine and Art Show7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.Fireside Inn & SuitesJoin the Fireside Inn & Suites every second Thursday of the month for their Wine and Art shows. The Liquor Locker will bring samples of wine and appetizers will be available.

March 8, 9, 10, and 11Dinner Theater6:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday2:00 p.m. Sunday (no dinner)NDSU Research Center, LangdonTickets for this event are available at Farmers & Merchants State Bank.

March 23 – 25Lake Region Skating Club Ice Show

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Save the Date EVENT GUIDE

Please call ahead to confirm events.Promote your event by sending informa-tion to lakeregionwoman@live.com.

6 Lake Region Woman | Winter

Hot Spots to Shop

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Personalize your memories with laser etched wooden frames from Creative Impressions. Sizes of 4x6, 5x7, or 8x10 are available.$23.99 to $28.99

These highly fragranced jar candles feature a natural wooden wick to create the soothing sound of a crackling fire. The 22oz large jar candle fragrances up to 180 hours. WoodWick® candles are available at The Garden Gate.$3.75 to $25.50

Frame your precious family moments for all to see in this Lake Collection family frame from Glory Haus avail-able at Snap Dragon Floral.$26.00

Have you hugged your mug today?These unique mugs are available in a variety of colors for either right or left handed people. These and other Clay in Motion Pottery Studio products are available at LaMotte’s Paint and Glass.$24.99

Rachael Ray Porcelain Enamel 1.5 and 2 qt. Curve TeakettleColorful and fun, this porcelain teakettle will add some spunk to your stovetop and brighten your day. Who knew boiling water could be so fun? This item is avail-able at Elaine’s House of Dreams.$30.00 1.5 qt.$40.00 2 qt.

SmartWool® SocksSmartWool’s goal is to provide you with seriously comfortable, superior quality products for your everyday lifestyle. Various styles are available at Gerrells Sports Center in Devils Lake.$16.99 to $19.99

Enfuselle® Nutrition Therapy Skin Care System™- For Normal to Oily SkinVitamins for your skin! The same nutrients that help keep you healthy on the inside also play a huge role in how you look on the outside. Fifty years of scientific nutrition research has been applied to developing the most advanced therapeutic skincare system around, providing you the answer to healthy-looking, beauti-ful skin. Available for normal to oily and normal to dry skin through Denice Casavant, Independent Shaklee Distributor at www.d-casa.myshaklee.com.Retail Price: $220.45 Member Price: $187.45

Ladies 18kt White Gold Semi-Mount RingThis ring has a .80 total diamond weight (center price not included) and available at Ritter Huesgen Jewelers.$2,940.00

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PostageUPS ShippingMoney OrdersATMCheck CashingNotaryPhoto CopiesPhoto CopiesFishing LicensesHunting LicensesLaminatingLotto TicketsFax ServicesGift Cards

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The Cure for Cold Feet!Ninety-eight percent of women suffer from cold feet due to the way their bodies react to colder tempera-tures, channeling heat away from their fingers and toes. Snoozies!® put an end to freezing feet! These cozy little foot coverings are available at Elaine’s House of Dreams.$10.00 to $12.00

Engraved items make great gifts any time of the year. Gerrells Sports Center in Devils Lake offers many en-graving options from plates to flasks.Prices vary.

Ladies 14kt White Gold, Black and White Diamond RingThis is a ¾ total weight diamond ring. It retails for $1,825.00, but is available at Ritter Huesgen Jewelers in Devils Lake for $1,449.00.

Warm up in this zip-up sweatshirt from Creative Im-pressions. They can embroider designs on any jacket.$64.99

Eco-Friendly/Fair Trade LampsThese luminaries from Eangee Home Design are hand-crafted by true artisans by using organic dyes and du-rable leaves, all while remaining green. A variety of sizes and colors are available at LaMotte’s Paint and Glass.Prices Vary

Swap Watch by Beehive can add a splash of color to any outfit. With a variety of styles and colors, your options are almost endless. Swap Watch is available at The Garden Gate.$8.00 to $19.50

Cinch® Starter Kit, Chocolate & Va-nillaGetting started. Even that’s a cinch. Once you open the Cinch Starter Kit, you’ll find that we take your health seriously. So, do your healthier self a favor and order a Starter Kit. And don’t forget that losing an inch ought to involve laughing it off. Available through Denice Casa-vant, Independent Shaklee Distributor at www.d-casa.myshaklee.com.Retail Price: $228.00 Member Price: $193.80

If cowgirls have more fun, then prove it! This resin How-dy Cowgirl frame from burton + BURTON goes nicely with its matching boot vase. Both of these products are available at Snap Dragon Floral.$16.00 (frame)

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Kettle Corn Crispie BarsSubmitted By Mary Jo Olson

8 cups kettle corn1 8-ounce package chocolate-covered toffee pieces1 cup pecans, toasted and finely chopped2/3 cup light-color corn syrup2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk1/2 cup packed brown sugar5 tablespoons butter3 tablespoons granulated sugar1 teaspoon vanilla 1 12-ounce package semisweet chocolate pieces, or one 11.5-ounce package milk chocolate pieces, melted1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping (optional)2 - 3 teaspoons coarse sea salt

10 Lake Region Woman | Winter

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Winter | Lake Region Woman 11

Line a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan; set pan aside. In a very large bowl, toss together the kettle corn, toffee pieces, and pecans; set aside.

For caramel sauce: In a small saucepan, combine the corn syrup, con-densed milk, brown sugar, butter, and granulated sugar. Bring mixture to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and boil gen-tly, uncovered, for 6 to 8 minutes or until the caramel sauce is a light golden brown, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour caramel sauce over kettle corn mixture, stirring with a wooden spoon until coated. Transfer mixture to prepared pan, pressing firmly into pan by using the back of a wooden spoon or a large piece of waxed paper.

Spread melted chocolate over kettle corn mixture. If you like, drizzle with caramel topping. Sprinkle with sea salt. Chill for 45 to 60 minutes or until chocolate is set. Use foil to lift kettle corn mixture from pan. Use a sharp knife to cut into bars, wiping blade with wet paper towels.

Sport your favorite team when you cozyup this winter

Keep yourfingerswarm withGordiniMittens

It’s a new year! With the turning of the calendar, many of us think about what we can do better in the next twelve months. The busy holidays are behind us and it’s now time to focus on “me.” Typically, we set resolutions to eat healthy and exercise more. Another way to start the year right is to take con-trol of the clutter that surrounds our lives. According to Peter Walsh, a professional organizer and author, “a more organized life is a happier, less-stressed life.” Who doesn’t want that? In Walsh’s book, It’s All Too Much, he lays out a plan for living a richer life with less stuff. Being surrounded by a surplus of stuff, whether it is packed into a closet or crammed into a drawer, is typical for many of us because we are living a fast-paced, hectic life. Clutter can cause us emotional drain, stress, and fatigue. This isn’t to claim that we all must have a clutter-free house, office, or car. It’s merely a suggestion that clearing some of the clutter will make us feel better, reduce stress, and produce more energy. Clutter monopolizes our time in sneaky little ways, such as making us hunt for our keys, the permission slip for our child’s field trip, or our shoes. When we spend all of our energy coping with the mess rather than tending to what matters to us, we shut down. How many times have you thought, “I should clean out the __________”? And, how often does the mere thought of the clutter make you so tired that all you want to do is escape by sit-ting down and watching television or logging on to Facebook? We often find ourselves dreading the clutter clearing because it has grown to an enormous job. Tackling it one piece at a time can help us feel a little jolt of energy over the accomplishment, which will have a snowball effect. As the clutter diminishes, we will see extra space and order. The new and improved con-

ditions in our apartment, garage, or any room in the house will fuel us with energy to see more of the same.

In her book The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin claims that our physical surrounding influences our spiritual happiness. On a quest to clear clutter from her apartment, she categorized clut-ter in many ways: nostalgic clutter, conservation clutter, bargain clutter, freebie clutter, crutch clutter, aspirational clutter, out-grown clutter, and buyer’s remorse clutter. Regardless of what name you give it, the point is to just get rid of it. The investment of time that you put into clearing the clutter will come back to you, and Walsh claims that it will come back to you with inter-est! Pick a room, closet, or drawer and start there. When you are clearing the clutter, avoid taking trips down memory lane. The key is to start with a rapid-fire approach and sort through the space as quickly as you can. Sort the items into three categories:

1. The stuff you use and need. These items obviously stay with you and should be kept in the space as neatly as possible.2. Things you don’t need any longer, haven’t used in over 12 months, or are taking up more space than necessary. These items go in a box or bag. If the items are in good condition, they can be donated to a charity, or if you have the time, sell them on EBay. Note: if the items pile up and you do not have them sold within a few weeks, it is time to donate them! 3. The broken items that no longer function, but have found their way into a “safe” place just by negligence. Take these items and—without a backwards glance—toss them in a trash bag.

Shannon Teigen | WriterShannon writes from her rural Devils Lake hobby ranch that is nestled in the peace and quiet of the North Dakota countryside. Her family, consisting of her husband, two teenage daughters, and a 9-year-old son, is the farthest thing from being peaceful and quiet, but she wouldn’t trade it for anything. After graduating from UND, Shannon established her career with foundation blocks of marketing, sales, customer service, human relations, and communications.

2012:The Year of

Clearing the Clutter

By Shannon Teigen

Once you have completed the sorting, take a minute to step back and admire your work. Enjoy the feeling that you have created. You may have produced enough energy to tack-le one more closet, drawer, or room. If you have the energy, maybe one more space can be done in just a few minutes. Jump at the chance! On the days when you don’t have much time

or energy, focus on a smaller space and still feel the re-wards. Take it one step at a time and one space at a time. Don’t expect to have all the clutter cleared in the first month of the year. Just vividly imagine what your house, car, or office look and feel like when they are clutter-free. Set aside some time to focus on that par-ticular space, and then start sorting. Before you know it, your space will match your imagination. [LRW]

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14 Lake Region Woman | Winter

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The store has closed, and it was your night to close out the register from the day’s sales. Store policy is to park as far away from the front door as possible so shoppers have the best parking. As your key turns in the lock, you consider that you should have worn sneakers so that you could run a little faster to get to your car—too late now. You turn the direction of where your car is parked, and you are met with your worst night-mare. The blood in-stantly drains from your face and your fingers begin to tingle. Your breath-ing is shallow and quick as your brain is thinking of one of two things: fight or flight. “ E v e r y -body has anxiety. It’s a normal thing,” says Deb Hanson, Licensed Indepen-dent Clinical Social Worker and owner of Country Counsel-ing & Consulting in Devils Lake. “The first thing I teach everybody that comes in is to take three deep breaths every hour. You do that to practice the skill and flood your brain with oxygen.” An anxiety response like fight-or-flight is your body’s natural reaction to keep you safe. “When something bad happens, all the blood and oxygen go to [your] heart and muscles to help you get away from the danger.” When we are free of danger, our body’s other natural

response is to breathe deeply in relief. This action allows the blood to return to our brain and fingers. As a reminder to breathe deeply, Deb sets a light tone in her phone alarm to gently remind her to take three deep breaths every hour. “Nobody even knows I’m doing it,” says Deb. Much like the natural way that our bodies respond to

anxiety in the fight-or-flight situation, our bodies can also devel-op anxiety or depres-sion. “It’s not a choice anybody is making. It just happens to us,” says Hanson. “It is generally a couple of things. It has to do with the possibility of low serotonin in the brain, which is clinical. Re-search has [improved], where [doctors] can detect the amount of serotonin in the brain and then they can give you an antidepressant and actually increase it. Sometimes, it runs in families like diabe-

tes, or stress can be a factor.” While not all completed suicides are a result of depres-sion, depression can lead to suicide. According to The Office of Suicide Prevention, suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds. There are about 4,000 suicides by young people ages 15 to 24 every year. “It’s scary. Depression can be deadly.”

DeadlyDepression Lake Region Social Workers Help in Times of Need

DID YOU KNOW? There are over 2,300 licensed social workers in North Dakota who care for people in every stage of life—from children to the elderly—and help people overcome life’s most difficult challenges. There are times, how-ever, when social workers need help. That’s where NASWND comes in. NASWND is a membership organization, working to strengthen, support, and unify the social work profession, to promote the development of social work standards and prac-tice, and to advocate for social policies that advance social justice and diversity. To find out more about how NASWND helps those who help you, visit socialworkers.org and naswnd.org.

16 Lake Region Woman | Winter

By Autumn Graber

Deb Hanson, LICSW is the President of the North Dakota Chapter of the Nation-al Association of Social Workers (NAS-WND). She owns her own counseling service in Devils Lake.

What can a parent do? Hanson says the best thing you can do with a teen that has been exhib-iting signs of depression is to be direct. “Kids will tell you if they are suicidal. Most of the time, they are very relieved that someone is asking them if they are suicidal. There is a myth that if you ask them about it, that will make them think about it, but there is too much talk about suicide in culture today to ever think you will protect them from that word. Be specific. Kids won’t understand your question if you aren’t specific. You have to be literal because they are pretty con-crete.” Hanson also says that even if you think your child is joking, you always take them seriously and take them to a professional. Parents aren’t the only ones that will see signs in a depressed teenager. It is important for teens to report it when they have heard a friend threaten to commit suicide. “When I talk to kids about a suicidal friend, my mantra is: tell an adult, tell an adult, tell an adult. Dead friend or mad friend: Which one do you want?” To a person that attempts suicide, it’s not about dying. It’s about stop-ping some pain,” says Hanson. “Helping them figure out they can find someone to talk to and giving them other coping mechanisms is really important.” Social workers in the Lake Region are doing great things. Not only are they providing people with the tools to deal with depression, but they are show-ing them how to use them. “We are fortunate to have private agencies in town and so we do get referrals from the court, from the hospital, and from the clinic. A lot of it is by word of mouth,” said Hanson. “The easy thing is not to talk about it.” Hanson explains that by using positive reinforcement with people who are suffering from depression can make all the difference in the world. “You walk in the door here, and I’m just so proud of you.”

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Three days a week, Hanson works with students at the Four Winds School. Social workers are focusing on prevention in schools more than ever be-fore. “That is why I love working in the schools because I can catch it faster. I will have students bring friends in. That happens a lot at the school.” Hanson also works with Wichoni Ohitika Stong Life Project to perform depression screenings on the students. “After the screening, I visit with every student and they score their own screening. Depression screen-ing is just a little snap shot of where you are at. Generally, screenings are accurate for about two weeks. We get permission from the parents to do the screening, and then if anything comes up, we call them right away.” If parents need help, then Hanson and the Strong Life Project will help facilitate any action that needs to be taken. Over eighty percent of individu-als have thought about suicide at some point in their lives. “Having the thought of suicide doesn’t mean you are going to kill yourself, it means you need to talk to somebody.” Hanson compares thoughts of suicide to pneumonia. “When you get

pneumonia and your chest is infected, you can’t breathe. When you think of de-pression, your serotonin levels are low and you aren’t thinking right – you’re not thinking clear.” Hanson says that if those people who have completed a suicide would have been thinking clearly, they wouldn’t have done it. Social workers are pivotal to a strong community. “I think social work-ers are important for prevention – catch-ing things before they turn into crisis. That is what we are here for.” Hanson feels that every school should have a social worker. “Devils Lake schools are ahead of the game. Not only do they provide resources and intervention, but they do the treatment and teach parenting classes.” To hear Hanson talk about her job, it’s obvious she loves it. “Being a social worker is about empowerment. It’s not about going in and fixing things. It’s not about giving the person you are visit-ing with all the answers.” Hanson enjoys visiting with people, supporting them, and giving them tools to deal with issues they are faced with every day. [LRW]

Symptoms of Depression

•Noticeable and lasting sadness, anxiety, or “emptiness”•Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, undeserving guilt, and worthlessness•Difficulty in concentrating, remembering, and making decisions•Having no energy•Restlessness, irritability•Pulling away from friends and family•Not caring about life or the future•Weight loss or weight gain•Change in sleep patterns•Loss of interest in work, school, activities, and personal appearance•Not getting any enjoyment from things that used to be pleasurable•Reckless, impulsive, or risky behavior•Increased use of alcohol or drugs•Thoughts of death and suicide•Aches and pains with no apparent cause

If someone has five or more of these symptoms for two weeks or longer, depression may be the cause. Tragic events, genetics, stress, hormonal changes, and physi-cal illness can make someone more prone to depression. But people also become depressed without experiencing any of these factors.

Source: North Dakota Prevention Resource Center

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Facts About Suicide• Teens that talk and threaten suicide often do it.• About 80% of the time, teens who kill themselves have given out signals, especially to friends and peers, but friends mistakenly keep this a secret.• Most suicidal people do not want to die, but are feeling alone, stuck, hopeless, and want the pain to stop.• Teens of all kinds, cultures, ages, and education levels end their own lives. Don’t dismiss your concerns because they are not the type.• Asking someone if they are suicidal will not cause someone to do it.• Listen, have a caring discussion, and connect teens with needed support. Don’t handle it alone.• Pay attention to anger, conflict, and impulsiveness as a potential warning sign, in addition to depression, substance abuse, and traumatic events.

Source: Mental Health Association in North Dakota

Also available for purchase atCreative ImpressionsDakota Gifts/Books to Go Kneadful Things ND Coffee ConnectionMercy Hospital Gift ShopRoyal Java - LRSC BookstoreRoyal Java - LRSC BookstoreWooden Garden - CooperstownUrban Ranch in West Fargo

Winter | Lake Region Woman 19

Autumn Graber | Writer

Before launching Lake Region Wom-an in 2010, Autumn began her ca-reer in communications as a radio announcer with KZZY in Devils Lake. After transferring to Minnesota State University – Moorhead, she continued her work on the radio as “Polly Wog” on Froggy 99.9. After her stint on ra-dio, Autumn began a career in televi-sion and worked for WDAY TV in Fargo. Once she graduated from MSUM with a BS in Mass Communication/Journal-ism, Autumn worked as an editor for two production companies and for the next twelve years, she honed her editing skills on projects such as televi-sion commercials, sales and marketing campaigns, shows for Discovery Health Channel, and ABC’s Extreme Make-over: Home Edition.

Autumn is a 2009 graduate of The Chamber Leadership Program, nomi-nated for Microsoft Business Solutions Vendor of the Year in Customer Service for 2002, and has been recognized by the North Dakota Professional Com-municators and the MSUM Academic Conference.

She is currently serving her final year on the Board of Directors for the American Advertising Federation of North Da-kota. Her term as president of AAF-ND was very successful with the award of “Club of the Year,” competing against clubs from South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Autumn is a graduate of Devils Lake High School and UND-Lake Region (now known as Lake Region State Col-lege).

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Aging

Options Help for Families to Plan Ahead

By Karissa Olson

Aging and disability are difficult topics to discuss. When is the right time to plan for the long-term care needs for you or your loved one? When Mom needs a little more help? After Dad had a fall and is going to need rehabilitation? As a family member, it is tough to consider these options; however, it is best to plan ahead by knowing your options and making financial plans.A little history on our long-term care system: It wasn’t until the 1930s, when President Franklin Roosevelt passed into legislation the Social Security Act, that funding was made available to sup-port services for the elderly. The states received monetary grants called Old Age Assistance to pay for such services. The number of private nursing homes grew in the 1940s but they were unregulated and many had a reputation for horri-ble living conditions. It was in the early 1950s when the federal government demanded legislation to clean up the nursing homes. Thereafter, states had to form licensing bureaus and standards so that all nursing homes could receive their federal grant funds. In 1965, President Johnson advocated the 1965 Medicare amend-ment to the Social Security Act to guarantee a livable future for ag-ing U.S. citizens. However, by the late 1960s, the Federal Depart-ment of Health had to turn down most of the coverage for nursing homes because the high costs left thousands without any way to pay their nursing homes bills. A number of nursing home-reform laws came about in 1972. These laws stated that Medicaid would reimburse nursing homes for reasonable cost of care. In 1985, a report on nursing home regulation incited legislation that further overhauled the fed-eral regulations for American nursing homes, standardizing care, and funding. Over the last 40 years, there has been a gradual change in the delivery of long-term care and options, including the use of home care and community living arrangements.

20 Lake Region Woman | Winter

Long-term care doesn’t just refer to a skilled nursing facility, commonly known as a nursing home. In the Lake Region, options available are home care, assisted living, basic care, and skilled nursing care. Differences remain in the types of services and in financial assistance that might be available. In the upcoming Long-Term Care Series, the goal is to provide education on the differ-ent types of care that is available in our community, how to choose the right op-tion, the financial options to pay for the care that you receive, and the differences between these payment options. Addi-tionally, this series will discuss the signs that indicate your loved one might need more care, how to care for the caregiver, and Alzheimer’s care.

Home Care provides assistance with personal care activities in your home. There are some agencies that can help with nursing or attendant care in your home. In the Lake Re-gion, these services can be pro-vided by Altru Home Services, Mercy Home Care Services, or Good Samaritan Society Home Health. Payment assistance can be available to those who qualify through Lakes Social Services (formerly Ramsey County Social Services). State and federal payment assistance programs are available to help pay for the care. Assisted Living resi-dents often live in their own apartment. In most cases, as-sisted living residents pay a regular monthly rent and pay additional fees for the services that they receive. Assisted liv-ing provides or coordinates needs to maintain as much in-dependence as possible; how-

ever staff might not be available 24 hours per day. Generally, assisted living in North Dakota is private pay; however, there are a couple of options available. One option is long-term care insurance policies, some having provisions that will assist with the cost of assisted living when a tenant qualifies. Also, there might be assistance available to help offset the cost of services that are provided in a li-censed assisted living unit. These funds are available based on income through Ramsey County Social Services. Basic Care provides services to residents who might not yet need the skilled care that is required of nursing home residents. Basic Care Services are

provided on a 24-hour basis; however, li-censed nursing staff is limited. Services are provided by caregivers. North Da-kota is the only state in the nation with this level of care. In other states, basic care and assisted living is frequently syn-onymous with and considered Assisted Living. Both Odd Fellows and Good Samaritan Society operate basic care in Devils Lake. Unlike assisted living, in-dividuals in basic care with limited finan-cial resources might qualify for the Basic Care Assistance Program, which helps in-dividuals residing in a licensed basic care facility to pay for the cost of care. This program is administered through Lakes Social Services. Skilled Nursing Care (also re-ferred to as a nursing home) is available to individuals who require a high level of care that is provided by licensed nursing staff 24-hours a day. Skilled nursing care has changed over the years, and although end of life care is provided, approxi-mately 50% of residents who enter long-term care do so to receive rehabilitation services and return to the community. Approximately 25% return home and an-other 25% return to a lower level of care such as basic care, assisted living, or to the home of a family member. Skilled nursing care can be paid for privately with long-term care insur-ance. Medicaid or Medicare might pay when certain conditions are met. Aging is a difficult topic to dis-cuss. All levels of care are important to meeting the needs of our community. All seniors deserve to have access to the most appropriate long-term care services to meet their needs. Many seniors move repeatedly throughout the care deliv-ery systems. The Lake Region provides several high-quality options to meet the needs of everyone, no matter the income level. [LRW]

Karissa Olson | Writer Karissa was born and raised in Devils Lake, graduated from DLHS, and then earned a Bach-elor of Science degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Minnesota – Crookston. In 2009, Karissa was presented the Outstanding Alumni Award from UMC for her passionate work in long-term care. Since 2001, she has been a licensed nursing home administrator in Minnesota. The Olson family was excited to be given the opportunity to come back to North Dakota in 2004, when Karissa was hired as CEO/Administrator of Lake Region Lutheran Home, Inc. She is currently an Advisory Board Member of TrainND, a board member of Lakes Social Services, member of the American College of Health Care Administrators, North Dakota Long-term Care Association, North Dakota Department of Health Business Process Re-engineering Commit-tee, Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, and Rotary Club of Devils Lake. Olson lives in Devils Lake with her husband Rich—who works for the City of Devils Lake Engi-neering Department—and their two daughters, Mikaela (8) and Brittyn (4).

Winter | Lake Region Woman 21

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Winter | Lake Region Woman 23

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From a young age, Denice Casavant suffered from frequent infections. “I had a lot of ear infections and, according to my mother, I was always on an antibiotic” said Casavant. “That set the stage for my suppressed immune system and infections that I had to deal with for a large part of my life.” School was a struggle for Denice due to her hearing loss. In fact, her parents talked about delaying her from entering the first grade because of her impairment. “Even through high school and my adult life I suffered with chronic infections and allergy symptoms. When I was 36, I had a hysterectomy that I just couldn’t recover from; I just didn’t feel good.”

Denice considers herself an “information junkie” and began researching her symptoms. At one point, she was told about an allergy doctor in Grand Forks who might be able to help her. She made an appointment with Dr. Silverman so he could conduct the testing. “The allergy testing was supposed to take three days, but for me, it took nearly two weeks.” After rigor-ous testing, Dr. Silverman determined that Denice was allergic to many allergens and that her histamine was extremely out of balance. “Dr. Silverman explained that I was allergic to my own histamine, or basically, that I was allergic to myself.” Dr. Silverman told Denice that he had over 6,000 patients and that she was one of the worse cases he had ever seen. Normally, it took him twenty minutes to figure out a person’s histamine lev-el, but with her, it took three days. Eventually, under the care of Dr. Silverman, Denice began to take injections that helped to regulate her histamine and build up her tolerance to the al-lergens that were affecting her health.

After about five years of taking injections, Denice became al-lergic to the base solution of her injections. During that time, Dr. Silverman had passed away. Needing to find an alternative, Denice turned to a clinic in La Crosse, WI. Denice traveled there twice a year, for ten years, to be retested. “The fourteen-hour trip was really getting old, and it was not very convenient having to use drops (sublingual drops), that needed to be refrig-erated, three times a day.” It was at that time that Denice was introduced to Shaklee.

Denice had always been interested in supplements and decided to try the Shaklee Vitalizer product, a daily strip of vitamins. “Within a week I felt better. I had more energy and I could ac-tually keep the supplements down, which had always been an issue for me.” She had been on the supplements for about three months when Shaklee introduced a product called NutriFeron, an all-natural immune booster. Denice was due to go back to La Crosse, but decided to try the NutriFeron before returning to Lacrosse after hearing a testimonial from a close friend about

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the product. “In the first month, I really didn’t know if it was working. The second month, I thought I felt a little better. And the third month, it just kicked in. I now consider myself allergy symptom free. Plus, I haven’t had one infection since I started on the Shaklee products, and that was about six years ago.”

NutriFeron, which is available only through Shaklee, is the natu-ral form of interferon. It is not just for people with allergies—ev-eryone who wants a healthier immune system should use NutriF-eron. “There is interferon in every cell of your body, and when there is an invader such as a cancer cell, bacterial or viral infec-tion, the interferon in the cells around that invader wakes up and attacks the invader. NutriFeron makes your body produce more of its own interferon, when needed. It’s not putting anything in your body that’s not already there; it simply keeps your immune system on guard.” Denice has had three sisters diagnosed with cancer and one of them lost her battle with fallopian tube/cervical cancer when she was 53-years-old. “When my sister died of cancer I had this thought that would never go away. I wanted to do something, but didn’t know what that was—I knew I couldn’t eradicate cancer. After using Shaklee and experiencing the improvement in my health, I realized that I could share the gift of Shaklee. Because

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that is what Shaklee has been for me, the gift of a healthier and better life. I know there are people with health is-sues that feel they have no-where to turn and that they have exhausted all avenues, and spent a near fortune on products that promised to help. “Desperate” is the word someone recently used, in describing her situation.” I’m living proof that there is an answer, and for me that answer is Shaklee.” Shaklee is the lead-ing natural nutrition compa-ny in the United States, and has been making a difference in people’s lives for over 55 years. Their consistent, on-going commitment to health and wellness and to the qual-ity of their products is un-surpassed. Shaklee’s prod-ucts are peer reviewed for third-party verification; other companies simply don’t have that library of research sup-porting their products. Shak-lee promises that their prod-ucts are always safe, always work, and are always green. And, they back their prom-ise with a 100% money back guarantee. Shaklee believes that your home should be the safest place in the world, and with their nontoxic cleaning line, Get Clean, it will be just that. Shaklee claims the products are safe, powerful, green, and will save you money. A person would have to spend more than $3,400 for conventional prod-ucts to get the same amount of clean that’s in a Get Clean Starter Kit. For example, just one bottle of Basic H Cleaning Concentrate equals the cleaning uses of 5,824 bottles of 26 oz. glass cleaner. It costs less than a penny for one 16 oz. bottle of Shaklee’s window cleaner. Get Clean is also one of Oprah’s favorite things. Denice says, “When I joined Shaklee, I was just looking for a good vitamin, but I found so much more. I had no idea how becoming a Shaklee member was going to impact my life. I had no intention of getting involved in the business aspect of Shaklee—it just happened. But, I’m so thankful that it did. I simply share what Shaklee’s unique products have done for my family and friends. And, when other people get results, they share it with their family and friends, that’s how it works. Shaklee has allowed me to be a part of the ripple of change, and a positive influence that helps make people’s lives and our planet healthier.” For more information on Shaklee, visit www.d-casa.myshak-lee.com or contact Denice at (701) 244-5705. [LRW]

Denice lives on a farm near Ro-lette with her husband Rick. They are partners in farming and enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren whenever they can.

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Last summer, my husband and I were on one of our road trips for an appointment that I had in Bismarck. We kept in mind all the road construction around the area, so we left an hour earlier than normal thinking that would allow us plenty of drive time. Theory and reality were soon clashing. As we sat waiting for a pilot car just south of Harvey, we calculated that, even with the full hour of extra time allotted for the drive, we were still going to be 45 minutes late. Irritation set in as I thought of calling ahead to announce our delay. You know that irritable feeling when you need to do something, but you really dread doing it? As I stewed about my situation, I turned the pages of the magazine that I was reading, no longer reading the words, just blindly flipping by each color-ful advertisement, picture, and article. The snapping sound of the pages got louder and snappier with each page. Admitting that I was going to be late was not what I wanted to do. My mom taught us girls to always be on time. Mom has been, is, and always will be someone who is on time. Nope, that’s not right. She is always early! While growing up, we were conditioned to understand that we were “late” if we were on time. Not a bad principle to stand on, but on this day, the deep-seeded conditioning of being on time (or early) com-bined with the road construction delay was causing conflict and

irritation for me. For twenty minutes I stewed—while snapping the pages of that magazine—about making that call. Tension filled the car and I’m certain my husband’s “wife radar” was alerting him to just keep the car moving and remain silent. You know the saying, “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” Final-ly, I turned my attention to my phone and dialed. I pleasantly explained the situation and silently prayed they had time for me later in the day so our hideously lengthy drive to Bismarck wasn’t in vain. Relief washed over me as the receptionist stated that according to their schedule, my appointment actually wasn’t until later that afternoon, allowing us ample time to maneuver through the road construction. The appointment card I was given had the wrong time written on it all along. Stewing over making that dreaded call wasted 20 minutes of happiness. If I had just made the call right away, we would have known early on that we had plenty of time and I wouldn’t have been stressed by the situation. Don’t waste your time stewing over dreaded tasks. When you come upon something that you really don’t want to do, I encourage you to do it right away. Complete the task and put it behind you so you can enjoy the rest of this day. [LRW]

{Dreaded Tasks}

This DayBy Shannon Teigen

Shannon Teigen | WriterWhen Shannon’s not focusing on family or roasting coffee for Little Coyote Cof-fee—a hobby turned small business—she is passionate about sharing her life’s experiences and motivating others. Whether writing an article for Lake Region Woman or conducting a training session on marketing, Shannon truly believes that you should do what you love and love what you do. You can reach Shannon at thisdaylrw@yahoo.com.

Winter | Lake Region Woman 27

If God really does write straight with crooked lines, Mary Wal-do is among the living witnesses.

Though not everything in her life has turned out as planned, much has turned out for the 27 year-old wife and mother of three.

As the fifth of seven children born to Gary and Becky Wald of Maddock, N.D., Mary entered a world of non-stop activity. Not surprisingly, by her high-school graduation in 2003, she was orienting herself toward a future of high drama. “The more stress, the better was my mentality at the time,” she said.

Mary began nursing school at North Dakota State University, but as things moved along, she began to feel unsettled. So, she left with an eye toward the wilder pursuit of paramedics.

The drama did come, but not in the form that Mary would have wanted. News that her mother had been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer rocked Mary’s world, causing another shift in priorities. Her father would need help with her youngest sister, Megan (13), and her mother would need her, too. Mary set off for home to do whatever needed doing.

“I was in the best position of all of us to do that, since I was sort of at an in-between place in my life,” Mary said. “We found out on a Friday that Mom had maybe two weeks left, so I walked into her room and announced that I was going to move home and assured her everything would be fine.”

While accompanying her mother to chemotherapy sessions,

Mary’s passion for the nursing profession reignited. “It can be the best experience for the family or the worst, and it’s all de-pendent on the nursing staff,” Mary said. “It’s not just about a sick patient, but all members of the family.”

Grateful for Winding PathsIn hindsight, Mary is thankful for the interruptions and begin-nings. “It wasn’t that nursing wasn’t right for me, but there’s a time for everything and it wasn’t the right time,” she said. “If I’d have stayed at NDSU when Mom got sick, I would’ve had my career and it would’ve been much harder to leave my life that was established. There was another plan.”

But even that didn’t unfold flawlessly. Mary admitted that she wasn’t living the life she should have been and needed “a rude slap in the face.” “As hard as it was to lose a parent, especially in my 20s, Mom’s passing was my wake-up call, a chance to start over,” she said. “So for me, the whole experience was a huge blessing. Moving back home, having to be responsible for someone—it was definitely the right thing in my life.”

It also allowed her mother to pass in peace a mere seven months after the diagnosis. After taking some time to grieve, Mary re-turned to nursing school, commuting between Maddock and Devils Lake, her heart still intent on helping her dad raise Me-gan.

The time allowed the two sisters to form a tight bond. Also dur-ing this period, Mary accepted a part-time job as an administra-tive assistant for the police academy in Devils Lake.

A Life of Crooked Lines Becomes a Blessing

Roxane B. Salonen | WriterRoxane started her writing career as a typist for her hometown newspaper in Poplar, Montana. An award-winning freelance writer and children’s author, she’s also a wife, mother of five, latte drinker, church cantor, and blogger. Her musings on parenting, writing, and faith can be found at Peace Garden Mama: www.roxanesalonen.blogspot.com.

By Roxane B. Salonen

Winter | Lake Region Woman 29

And, in walks a prince… As it turns out, a guy named James Waldo was a student of the acad-emy. Though she’d brushed past him here and there while at her job, Mary hadn’t really talked to him until the night when a group of academy workers and graduates went out to celebrate. Early into their conversation, Mary realized that James wasn’t typi-cal. He was a sin-gle father with full custody of his two boys from a previ-ous relationship—a packaged deal. But, she found something about James hard to resist. “With so many people, it’s more about ‘What am I go-ing to gain from this relationship?’” Mary said. “But with him, if everyone else has what they need, then he’s happy—then he feels like he’s doing his job in life. He’s ever the caretaker.”

After all she’d been doing for others in the previous months, a small part of her ached to be on the receiving end of that protective nature.

The Significance of a Spoon Flash back to the academy grad-

uation party, where a young woman and man introduce themselves in a bar. “I’m a very private person, but mom had a ring made from a spoon handle and I wore it on my left ring finger as a kind of symbol that Megan comes first—not a guy or any-

thing else,” Mary said. When James asked about the ring, Mary hesitated, feeling it was too soon to ex-

plain all she’d been through. She also recognized that keeping things real would help her know whether James was worth her time. So she told him about losing her mother and how Megan was a priority. Without flinching, James lis-tened and then shared some stories of his own. “I realized in that moment what a special man he was. Because, how many single men have full custody of their kids?” she said. “And they’re so well-behaved. He’s done a good job.” The feelings of respect were mu-tual. James told Mary that he admired the fact that she’d been through some real-life experiences and had her priorities fig-ured out. Within the year, the two became engaged, and on the third anniversary of Mary’s mother’s death, learned they were expecting a child. They married this past April, and in August, welcomed a daugh-ter, Tenley, into the fold.

Joining FirstChoice Clinic In July 2010, Mary became a li-censed practical nurse, and by the follow-ing May, a registered nurse. Several months before gradu-ation, she reconnected with Pauline Economon of FirstChoice Clinic in Far-go. The two had crossed paths a few years earlier, and Economon had been struck by her. As it turned out, the Devils Lake sat-ellite clinic had an opening. Economon asked Mary if she’d be interested. After some prayer, she agreed and began work-ing as nurse manager there in February 2011 – two years after the opening of the satellite clinic. Initially, she worked Tuesdays only, but more recently increased hours of operation to three days a week: Mon-day through Wednesday, or by appoint-ment if needed.“I love FirstChoice. I love our mission and the work that we do,” Mary said. “We’re truly here for everybody involved in a pregnancy situation; the mother, the

Pictured: Mary with her mom Becky.

Pictured: Mary, James, Cole, 8;Quentin, 7; Tenley, infant.

30 Lake Region Woman | Winter

new life (the baby), the father, the sib-lings of the pregnant mother, grandmas, grandpas, everyone.” One of her priorities is to bring more awareness to the community of FirstChoice Clinic. “We’re still fairly new to the area and we’re still evolving,” she explained. “There are a lot of people in the Lake Region who either don’t know we’re here or don’t understand what we do. We don’t just offer pre-pregnancy testing—that’s just a small percentage of what we do. And some people think we book adoptions, but actually, we refer people out to other agencies.” A faith-based clinic, FirstChoice Clinic encourages individuals who face a pregnancy to make life-affirming choic-es. Along with free pregnancy testing and ultrasounds, clients can enroll in a program called Earn While You Learn. Through this program, new parents re-ceive education on their developing child and their new roles, in addition to having the opportunity to acquire free necessities for their child for up to a year following birth. “Physicians can’t do this. They’re understaffed, overbooked, and clients don’t know the questions to ask,” Mary said. “FirstChoice Clinic guides the client through all of this, giving them the resources they need to have a healthy pregnancy—for both the mom and the baby.” And it’s not just for unplanned pregnancies. “Whether baby is expected or not, the services are there and avail-able,” she said. “We are here for them in a non-judgmental, compassionate setting to support them and provide education and encouragement for a healthy pregnancy.” Because of its prayer-centered approach, the clinic relies on people knowing that they exist and why. “If people don’t know about us, prayer won’t happen. And, our primary aim is for peo-ple to pray for us and the mission and its growth, and for the women who are going through the program.” To raise awareness, Mary is will-

ing and eager to speak to churches, high-school health or career classes, and other community organizations. She’ll even travel to get the word out to surrounding areas, including Ramsey, Benson, Eddie, Nelson, Rolette, and Bottineau counties. “Outreach is big right now,” she said.

Sweet Endings In so many ways, things seem to have fallen into place for the Wal-dos—and in a way that neither of them could have predicted five years ago. “My mom was always a big supporter of Firs-tChoice Clinic and other pregnancy cen-ters,” Mary said. “She really had a heart and a love for pregnancy, the unborn, for moms and what they go through, and the sacrifices they make to be a mom.” James’ gifts and presence in her life also have given her a boost when it comes to her work. “With the special cir-cumstances James and I have in having custody of the boys—the challenges and joys—I have a great insight into single fatherhood. I’ve learned from him what it’s like to be a man and not be with the mother, and what he went through and gave up and sacrificed in his own life. That’s invaluable, along with my own ex-periences,” she said. “It’s neat to see how all of that really seemed to be preparing us for this.” Currently, her younger sister Megan is a senior in high school, prepar-ing to be launched into the world, while James is finding a nice fit in his work as a Ramsey County deputy. And what of the ring that attest-ed to her commitment to her priorities? “James now wears it on a chain around his neck,” Mary said. “I should add that James and Megan have become great friends and are actually alike in many ways!” Come to think of it, maybe that crooked line isn’t so jagged after all. [LRW]

Baby Boutique DontationsFirstChoice Clinic accepts dona-tions to their baby boutique all year long. Some of the items that can be donated are diapers, baby bottles, and cloths. Drop site can be found around the Lake Region, or contact FirstChoice Clinic at 701-662-2229 to find out how to donate baby items.

Winter | Lake Region Woman 31

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